Meta faces backlash and deletes AI accounts amid user outrage

In late 2023, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, faced backlash from social media users due to its AI-generated accounts, which were designed to mimic human engagement. The controversy intensified when Connor Hayes, a VP at Meta, revealed during an interview that the company expected these AI accounts to function similarly to human accounts, complete with bios, profile pictures, and the ability to generate content. This statement raised alarms among users, who were concerned that the AI-generated content, which many described as 'slop,' would compromise the core purpose of social media—encouraging genuine human connections. The situation escalated as some AI accounts, notably one called 'Liv,' were discovered to have misrepresented their racial and sexual identities in their bios, prompting outrage. Liv, for example, claimed to be a 'Proud Black queer momma' despite being revealed to have been created largely by individuals of different racial backgrounds. The ensuing revelations led to users posting about the disingenuous nature of these accounts, fueling further dissatisfaction. Amid increasing scrutiny, Meta took action to remove Liv and other similar accounts, citing a bug that affected users’ ability to block these AIs. Liz Sweeney, a Meta spokesperson, clarified that the AI accounts were part of an experimental phase and not a new product launch. The backlash against the AI accounts had broader implications for how AI could shape social interactions on platforms like Facebook, clearly indicating that users expect authenticity in the discourse facilitated by social media platforms. As Meta moved to delete these accounts, they aimed to address concerns, but the incident raised critical questions about the future of AI integration in social media and whether it could ultimately enhance or undermine its fundamental purpose.