Satirical outlets mock Zuckerberg after Meta ends fact-checking

This photo illustration created on January 7, 2025, in Washington, DC, shows an image of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and an image of the Meta logo. – Social media giant Meta on January 7, 2025, slashed its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking program, in a major shift that conforms with the priorities of incoming president Donald Trump. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg became the subject of scathing satirical headlines and fake quotations after the social media platform’s move to end its fact-checking initiative.

Australian satire outlet The Chaser published a satirical “Top 10 real Mark Zuckerberg quotes” following Meta’s announcement which they said was done to celebrate “this win for free speech” in apparent ironic tune.

Published on Tuesday, The Chaser’s article’s list of fake quotations included “‘I killed Jeffery Epstein but still miss him everyday.’ – Mark Zuckerberg, 2023” and “‘I once tried to sell a baby on Facebook marketplace’ – Mark Zuckerberg, 2020.”

Another US-based satire site The Hard Times had a fake headline released Tuesday which reads: “Mark Zuckerberg, Recipient of World’s First Rat Penis Transplant, Announces Meta Will Stop Fact Checking.”

Also, political strategist Cheri Jacobus also posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday a fake headline which reads: “Facebook Founder and Convicted Pedophile Mark Zuckerberg, Dead at 36, Says Social Media Sites Should Not Fact-Check Posts.”

On Jan. 7, Meta announced that it is moving away from its third-party fact checking program and will do community notes instead.

“On platforms where billions of people can have a voice, all the good, bad and ugly is on display,” Meta said in a statement on Jan. 7. “But that’s free expression.”

However, online news outlet Rappler, which is one of the Philippine-based third party fact checkers, disputed this as it expressed dismay with Meta’s latest move.

“Allowing manipulative and harmful content to flourish and gain eyeballs in platforms under the guise of ‘free speech’ is opportunistic and puts people’s health, well-being, and safety at risk,” Rappler said in a statement on Wednesday.

Meta’s move is seen by critics as a pivot to US President Donald Trump.

For Rappler’s part, it said that “for as long as Meta retains the fact check program in the Philippines, Rappler intends to continue this engagement, especially during an election year, to protect fellow Filipinos from manipulation and the dangers of disinformation.”

“What has happened in the US is just the beginning. It is an ominous sign of more perilous times in the fight to preserve and protect our individual agency and shared reality,” it added.