Facebook has given former President Donald J. Trump a two-year suspension from the platform; following the recent statement, it said it would update the decision by Friday, June 4. The social media company has also rolled out a new policy for politicians, making them a part of the content moderation and Community Guidelines, which have grievous punishments.
Previously, Facebook's Oversight Board and the company have not touched the politicians who utilize social media for either their personal or public profile posts and statements. However, all that changed when it initially blocked the former president from the platform last January, following Twitter's footsteps that already affirmed its decisions.
The developments on Trump's case gave him the maximum suspension sentence on Facebook for his misuse of the platform, says the social media. He would not be able to access it until January 7, 2023.
Social media is a powerful tool since its initial introduction, even more so in these times where people mostly rely on it for news and information.
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Facebook's Trump 2-Year Suspension
Trump gets the maximum sentences for both of the largest and most used social media platforms in the world, with Twitter giving him the permanent ban, but for Facebook, only its maximum suspension sentence. According to Facebook's blog as authored by VP of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, Facebook would not give an indefinite suspension, hence this update.
President Donald Trump walks on the south lawn of the White House on October 20, 2020 in Washington, DC.
The deliberation of Trump's reign on social media took almost half a year, with the initial suspension happening last January and the verdict of Facebook only handed out now. Also, Facebook notes that it would not give a permanent ban like what Twitter did; instead, impose a rather lengthy suspension and then reevaluate if the former president would still be a danger to his followers and the public.
Clegg highlighted that Trump praised those who stormed the Capitol last January, which led to several deaths of five people, including a policeman.
Politicians To Follow Same Fate If Found to Misuse Their Accounts
Facebook calls this the "Heightened Punishments for Public Figures." It would be intended for public personalities, including politicians with access and privileges to their social media accounts. The punishment would span for as little as one month to the maximum sentence of two years, as what Trump has initially received. After which, if the account holder still poses a threat or violates another policy that threatens public safety or the like, they would get a permanent suspension.
Facebook's policy for politicians might still give them a chance at redemption for their accounts. Still, the company notes that if they misuse it, they will not choose other than to impose their removal from the public feed.
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Written by Isaiah Richard
