New York — The social media giant Meta finds itself embroiled in controversy as Instagram users, including high-profile celebrities like singers Demi Lovato and Gracie Abrams, express mounting frustration over difficulties unfollowing political accounts linked to President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump. Allegations of automated refollows and technical glitches have sparked heated discussions online, raising broader concerns about Meta’s impartiality and its role in shaping political discourse.
Gracie Abrams, a prominent voice among young social media users, shared her frustration in a widely circulated Instagram story. She explained that despite her repeated attempts to unfollow the official accounts for the President (@potus) and Vice President (@vp), the platform appeared to automatically refollow them. “How curious!” Abrams wrote, adding that she ultimately resorted to blocking the accounts to prevent further issues. Similarly, Demi Lovato took to Instagram to voice her concerns, telling her followers that she had unfollowed Trump’s account twice in one day, only to discover that the action had not been finalized.
The frustrations shared by Abrams and Lovato have resonated with a wide swath of Instagram users, many of whom have posted warnings encouraging others to verify their followed accounts. The outcry comes amid additional reports that the hashtag #Democrat was temporarily blocked on Instagram, further fueling suspicions of political bias. Responding to these claims, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the issue with hashtags but insisted that it was a technical problem unrelated to political affiliations. He assured users that the glitch affected hashtags across the ideological spectrum and was being actively resolved.
Regarding the unfollowing concerns, Meta categorically denied any deliberate interference. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Stone emphasized that users were not being forced to follow the official accounts of Trump, Vance, or Melania Trump. He explained that the apparent glitches were related to the transition of official accounts between administrations, a routine process that has been in place for years. “This is the same procedure we followed during the last presidential transition,” Stone wrote. He also noted that delays in processing follow and unfollow requests might occur as the accounts are transferred to the new administration.
Despite Meta’s explanations, skepticism has persisted, with critics pointing to the company’s recent policy changes as evidence of a broader shift toward conservative priorities. In the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration, Meta made a series of controversial decisions, including appointing Trump ally and UFC president Dana White to its board of directors and replacing its chief policy officer with a Republican figure. Additionally, the company terminated its third-party fact-checking program in the United States and revised its hateful conduct policies to permit certain types of previously restricted content.
Meta’s decision to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has further exacerbated concerns. Advocacy groups and critics have viewed the move as a retreat from social responsibility, particularly in the face of rising polarization and online harassment. On the same day that the DEI programs were discontinued, CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he discussed the company’s strategic shifts. Defending the recent changes, Zuckerberg argued that excessive content moderation and aggressive fact-checking had undermined user trust. He characterized the adjustments as part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence in Meta’s platforms.
Zuckerberg’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration alongside other tech industry leaders has only deepened suspicions about Meta’s political alignment. For many users, the controversy over Instagram’s handling of political accounts underscores a growing unease with the platform’s perceived biases and its impact on public discourse. As criticism continues to mount, Meta faces increasing pressure to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and neutrality in the digital age.