Meta is scrapping its diversity program, adding its name to a growing list of U.S. companies making similar moves in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, sent a memo to staff about the decision, citing “changing legal and policy circumstances,” the BBC reported.
Walmart and McDonald’s are among the companies that have made similar hiring decisions regarding diversity efforts since Mr. Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.
According to the BBC, Mehta’s memo said the term DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) had been “charged.” The company said it will continue to search for diverse candidates, but will no longer be selecting a particularly diverse pool of candidates.
Amazon previously sent a memo to employees in December saying it was “retiring outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion. Amazon confirmed to Deadline that Candy Castleberry, vice president of inclusive experiences and technology, sent a letter to staff on December 16 stating that “we aim to complete the project by the end of 2024.” Ta. He added, “We believe this is important work, which is why we continue to invest in programs that reflect these audiences and help our people grow, thrive, and connect. We remain dedicated to providing an inclusive experience for our community.” all over the world. ”
The BBC reported that JPMorgan Chase and BlackRock this week left the group focused on risks from climate change.
This follows Meta’s announcement four days earlier that it would end its fact-checking program, which Trump and Republicans had previously criticized.
Deadline reported on Tuesday that Zuckerberg posted: “The recent election also feels like a cultural tipping point to prioritize speech once again. So we’re going back to our roots, making fewer mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms. We are focusing on that.”
The changes are just the latest effort by Meta, given that Trump and his allies have targeted the platform and Zuckerberg himself. After Trump’s reelection, Zuckerberg met with the president-elect. Last week, Nick Clegg, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, announced his resignation and was replaced by Joel Kaplan, a Republican sympathetic to claims that the platform suppresses conservative voices. Then he announced.
