Zuckerberg Did It Again

January 22, 2025

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Zuckerberg Overhauls Meta...Again

On Tuesday, Mark Zuckerberg announced sweeping changes to Meta’s moderation policies, calling it a return to the platform’s roots of free expression.

He laid out a new vision for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads which included:

1. Goodbye Fact-Checkers, Hello Community Notes

Meta is ditching fact-checkers and rolling out a Community Notes system inspired by Elon Musk’s X.

Zuckerberg said, “Fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created.”

2. Looser Content Policies

The company is removing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender, which Zuckerberg said had “gone too far” and shut down diverse opinions.

3. Fewer Filters

Automated filters will now focus on high-severity violations like terrorism and child exploitation. For everything else, users will have to report violations.

4. The Return of Politics

After years of limiting political content, Meta will start recommending more civic posts across its platforms.

5. Texas Over California

Meta’s trust and safety teams are moving to Texas, with Zuckerberg saying the shift will help “build trust” and address concerns about bias in Silicon Valley.

6. Teaming Up with Trump

Meta plans to work with the incoming Trump administration to combat laws they say limit free speech in Europe, China, and Latin America.

The Reaction

The news sparked polarizing reactions:

Critics: “So attacking minorities, encouraging their aggression, risking their lives as consequences, will be considered for you free expression?”
Supporters: “Huge step in the right direction! Thank you for keeping our freedom of speech in your platforms.”
Skeptics: “This feels like the prelude to a Black Mirror episode.”

Quote:

Zuckerberg framed the changes as necessary to reduce mistakes in content moderation: “Even if we accidentally censor just 1% of posts, that’s millions of people. It’s just too much censorship.”

Our Take:

By with X’s model, Zuckerberg is betting big on user-driven moderation.

Can Meta create platforms that promote free expression? Or will user moderation create a messier Meta than ever before?

Time will tell but one thing is certain: this move, coupled with UFC CEO Dana White recently joining Meta’s board, is a major culture shift for Meta.

Nick DiGiovanni Surpasses Gordon Ramsey, Launches 2nd Channel

Nick DiGiovanni officially dethroned Gordon Ramsay as YouTube’s top food creator, surpassing 22M subscribers. But he’s not stopping there.

Last week, he has launched a new channel, Nick’s Kitchen, focused on straightforward cooking tutorials.

I interviewed him to learn how he got here and why he’s launching a second channel.

The Rise of Nick DiGiovanni

Nick’s journey began on MasterChef, where he finished third under Gordon Ramsay’s mentorship.

“Gordon is somebody for whom I have all the respect in the world,” he recalled in our interview. “There’s not many people who can say that he’s been a mentor to them.”

But instead of riding the wave of TV fame, he took matters into his own hands.

From creating the world’s largest chicken nugget to SpongeBob-themed meals, his experiments resonated with millions of followers.

The Genius of Nick’s Kitchen

While his main channel thrives on viral stunts and collaborations with stars like MrBeast and Paris Hilton, Nick’s Kitchen is about going back to basics.

“It’s just me, the kitchen, and simple but delicious dishes,” Nick told me.

The channel’s first video, a mac and cheese tutorial, amassed nearly 450K views in three days with cinematic shots and easy-to-follow recipe.

🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails

Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully they inspire your next one.

Michael Jordan + golden trophies instantly catch attention (Nonstop)
Giant hot sauce + ‘lab test’ in Hot Ones branding creates hook (Howtown)
Dramatic lighting and color contrast create cinematic vibe (Peter McKinnon)
‘CULT’ text + bizarre drawing creates intrigue (James Jani)

🚀 Weekly Outlier

This video by Outdoor Tom has got 3.6M views which is 7.8 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:

Relatable Journey: Tom’s quest for a snow machine hits home. Who hasn’t saved up for a dream as a kid?
Famous Roots: As the son of Outdoor Boys (12.5M subscribers), Tom brings familiar DIY energy with his own twist.
Keeps You Watching: Every repair feels like a next step in a mini-adventure, keeping you hooked for the payoff.

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💰 Job Board

🏆 The Created Referral Program

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Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.

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👋 See You Inside

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– Jon

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