Ever since Donald Trump secured his second term as president, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has implemented a series of right-leaning policy changes that critics fear could fuel hate speech, misinformation, and harassment on its platforms. These changes include getting rid of fact-checkers in favor of community notes, lifting restrictions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapping diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, removing trans-inclusive features from apps, and reintroducing political content recommendations. While many activists see these changes as a significant shift to the right, leftist meme creators on Instagram view it as more of the same — an ongoing struggle to navigate a hostile digital landscape. For these creators, platform changes go beyond just policy alterations; they reshape the very environment in which they create and share their work. Despite the rising hostility on Meta’s platforms, they remain essential digital spaces for creators. Leftist meme creators are not abandoning ship en masse; instead, they are adapting and pushing back. While Meta’s rightward shift may impact the digital landscape, it is not stifling the creativity, subversion, and activism that define leftist meme culture. Some creators even see these changes as a motivation to become more radical in their content. Despite the challenges of combating misinformation and hate speech in a less regulated space, leftist creators have always found ways to navigate these obstacles. The rollback of content moderation could potentially benefit radical leftist speech, although there are concerns about how evenly these changes will be enforced. Leftist creators are skeptical that Meta will treat their content any differently than before. Regardless, they remain hopeful that political memes will continue to have a powerful impact through engagement and real-world action, making it worthwhile to remain on the platform. Many creators feel compelled to stay on Instagram despite their disagreements with Meta’s policies because it is where their audience is, and it provides a platform for their creative work. Ultimately, the challenge of navigating a changing digital landscape while staying true to their beliefs is a constant struggle for leftist meme creators.
