**Mark Zuckerberg’s Actions Are Jeopardizing LGBTQ+ Users—It’s Time to Uninstall Instagram**
On January 31, 2024, Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a Senate hearing room on Capitol Hill, confronted by a group of grieving parents showing photos of their children who had died by suicide or faced exploitation after encountering dangers on Meta’s platforms. As cameras snapped away, Zuckerberg addressed them. “I’m deeply sorry for all you have endured,” he stated.
Less than a year later, Zuckerberg revealed that Meta would scrap its fact-checking initiative and implement policies akin to Elon Musk’s contentious methods on X (previously Twitter). This choice, presented as an attempt to lessen “censorship,” represents a perilous regression. It will render platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp even more hazardous, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Having spent 13 years on Instagram, amassing a following of 80,000 and reaping financial rewards as an influencer, I have made the decision to exit the platform. This choice was far from simple, but it’s one I can no longer postpone.
### From Community to Harm
I entered Instagram as a young dancer spotlighted in television productions, utilizing it to connect with friends, foster a community, and promote causes I believed in. It served as a hub for creativity and possibilities. However, as time passed, Instagram transformed into a source of stress, a platform that consumed my adolescence and inflicted harm on me and those I care about.
Social media mirrors the atmosphere it occupies, and that atmosphere is becoming increasingly toxic. The incidence of hate speech on social media has surged in recent years, and Meta’s choice to discontinue fact-checking and loosen content moderation will only worsen this issue. If Zuckerberg emulates Musk’s approach by introducing features like X’s “community notes,” which permit anonymous users with little vetting to oversee content, harmful misinformation and hate speech will proliferate unchecked.
### The LGBTQ+ Community Faces Increased Risks
For LGBTQ+ users, this transition is particularly disconcerting. Research indicates that LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately affected on social media networks. Young LGBTQ+ individuals especially face heightened threats of harassment, exploitation, and exposure to damaging content. Meta’s updated policies will only intensify these hazards.
In spite of this alarming reality, there are those striving to hold tech companies accountable. Organizations like the Heat Initiative, where I am employed, are advocating for safer digital environments. It is essential for LGBTQ+ youth to understand they are not alone and that initiatives are underway to create a safer internet. Nonetheless, the prevailing state of social media is grim, and Zuckerberg’s measures are amplifying the risks.
### A Profit-Driven Business Model
Ironically, Meta’s revised policies may backfire on its business. Zuckerberg has echoed Musk’s narrative about “free speech” to defend the rollback of safety protocols, but Musk’s choices have led to disastrous outcomes for X. When Twitter transitioned to X and deprioritized safety, it became a refuge for harmful and illegal material, deterring both users and advertisers. Zuckerberg himself has acknowledged that Meta’s services are likely to experience a similar uptick in harmful content.
Tech leaders like Zuckerberg, Musk, and even Apple’s Tim Cook—who once contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration—have repeatedly demonstrated that their primary concern is safeguarding their influence and profits, not the well-being of their users. The LGBTQ+ community cannot afford to place its trust in them.
### Time to Move On
Meta’s recent actions are part of a lengthy track record of prioritizing profit over people. The company has deliberately allowed hate speech to thrive, created algorithms aimed at addicting young users, and is now actively dismantling content safety measures. I can no longer rationalize using their platforms.
Reflecting on my past, I understand that the most toxic relationship of my youth was not with a person but with Mark Zuckerberg and the platforms he developed to monetize our attention. Like an unwelcome ex who refuses to depart, Zuckerberg’s presence is pervasive—but I’m finished giving him a free pass.
It’s time to stand up. Join me in uninstalling Instagram.
**Lennon Torres** is an LGBTQ+ advocate and former child star known nationally as a young dancer on television. She currently works in online child safety at the Heat Initiative, aiming to connect online safety with LGBTQ+ representation through inclusive strategies. Connect with Lennon on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennon-torres-325b791b4/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennon-torres-325b791b4/).