NEWSWill Kim Kardashian And Other Celebs Go Silent On Social Media?
Sept. 16 2020, Updated 12:38 p.m. ET
Several celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio have called out to Facebook to take responsibility for what they perceive to be hate on the various platforms owned by Mark Zuckerberg's company.
The social media campaign uses the hashtag #StopHateForProfit, and Kardashian posted on her Instagram profile that something must be done to hold the company accountable.
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"I love that I can connect directly with you through Instagram and Facebook, but I can't sit by and stay silent while these platforms continue to allow the spreading of hate, propaganda and misinformation — created by groups to sow division and split America apart — only to take steps after people are killed," she wrote.
Facebook owns messenger service WhatsApp and photo sharing app Instagram.
Kardashian, whose husband Kanye West is running as an independent candidate in several states, said that the elections can be influenced through false information on social media accounts.
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"Misinformation shared on social media has a serious impact on our elections and undermines our democracy," she said.
The goal of the campaign is to get celebrities with massive followings to "freeze" their Instagram and Facebook profiles for one day, which will in turn reduce the advertising profit Facebook would generate.
Perry posted a similar message on her Instagram profile.
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"I love sharing my music and my life with you on Instagram and Facebook, but TBH I can't sit idly by while these platforms turn a blind eye to groups and posts spreading hateful disinformation and intentional confusion. I'm standing with @naacp, @colorofchange, and @adl_national and will be freezing my Instagram and Facebook accounts on Wednesday, September 16th to tell Facebook to #StopHateForProfit."
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On the official Stop Hate For Profit website, the campaign outlines what it hopes to achieve and what it stands for.
"Stop Hate for Profit is a diverse and growing coalition that wants Facebook to take common-sense steps to address the rampant racism, disinformation and hate on its platform. Facebook's policies and enforcement on hate speech, incitement to violence, and misinformation are astonishingly weak, and disproportionately harm BIPOC and LGBTQ+ users," it explained in its FAQ section.
The group states that they have three goals that they would like to achieve with the campaign: shut down large groups that are full of hate and violent conspiracies, prohibit blatant lies in political ads, and enable victims of severe harassment to contact a live Facebook employee for help.
According to the group, "Facebook has responded to this incredible groundswell with a lot of messaging along with some minor changes. But we are only at the starting line."
