- Creator Toolkit
- Posts
- Zuck's making big promises but raises bigger questions.
Zuck's making big promises but raises bigger questions.
Jessica Smalley
January 13, 2025
In partnership with
Hey Creator,
Mark Zuckerberg recently made headlines when he announced that Meta would end fact-checking and introduce community notes.
It seems that the overwhelming reaction to this is not good.
To be honest with you, I can’t say I’m buying Meta’s “free speech” push to empower the user either.
It feels like a calculated play to appease US conservatives and fend off government scrutiny before an antitrust trial.
Zuckerberg’s announcement doesn't address the real issues creators face on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, such as arbitrary censorship and algorithm bias.
As longtime internet reporter Taylor Lorenz put it, billionaires like Zuck aren’t champions of free speech, they’re opportunists (*Cough* Trump 2.0).
If anything, this move reminds us why creators need to diversify and build independent platforms.
What do you think? Is this just another big tech smokescreen, or could this change help us?
Here’s what you can expect in today’s newsletter:
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Quick Fire!
Social media Updates for this week
Check out my READ, LISTEN + WATCH recommendations for this week
🫒by Jess Smalley
Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here 🤙
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Dr. Seuss, from his book Oh, the Places You'll Go!
CREATOR NEWS
🧨QUICK FIRE
Mark Zuckerberg announced this week that Meta will end third-party fact-checking and introduce “community notes,” which, like X, allows users to attach fact checks and context notes.
Meta plans to unleash AI bot profiles on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
ByteDance announced that it would exit TikTok from the U.S. unless the Supreme Court intervened to stop or delay the ban. The Chinese government said it intends to halt any sale involving the algorithm.
Despite a looming ban, TikTok announced its What’s Next Trend Report 2025 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) convention, a tech event in Las Vegas.
Reddit has launched marketing tools including Reddit Pro Trends, to track the growth of discussions and AMA ads, allowing brands to promote their “Ask Me Anything” chats in the app.
Instagram has shut down a program that paid creators for ads on their profiles.
SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
When is the best time to post on IG? Buffer says 3 PM on weekdays and 6 PM on weekends.
has added a 'Fade’ option for adding music to your Reels.
YouTube
3-minute shorts is now accessible to all users.
are experimenting with a feature that allows you to clip highlight moments from. long-form videos and turn them into Shorts.
TikTok
TikTok Studio now lets you view creators’ analytics.
has added a feature called ‘Content Check’, to check for potential violations before you publish. You are limited to 3 content checks per day.
has added a ‘Descriptive Ideas’ to help you decide what to write about photos.
X
has increased the price of a Premium+ subscription by 37.5%.
has started to label parody accounts.
READ: Taylor Lorenz explains why Meta’s recent announcement to end fact-checking and introduce “community notes” under the guise of supporting free speech is being widely criticised as performative.
LISTEN: Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Joe Rogan Experience for the third time, which happened the same week he announced the end of fact-checking. It is important to listen to this, given how timely it is. Keep in mind that The Verge has subsequently challenged a long list of Zuck’s claims, which you can read here
WATCH: Watching the YouTube OG group Dude Perfect play in their new purpose-built studio warehouse is like watching a bunch of boys play with toys and have fun. Created host Jon Youshaei goes on a guided tour with the Trickshot creator group and chats about the $100M investment, growing the DP universe and their longterm vision.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider sharing it with someone else who might also enjoy it.
Have a great week 🙂
Receive Honest News Today
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
THE DIG