Meta's Policy Shift Takes A Toll On Instagram Engagement: Report

Meta Platforms, Inc.’s META political content control has cost its subscriber base.

The Instagram parent noted a significant plunge in the viewership of its popular accounts to the extent of 65% since a shift in its policy in March, Bloomberg cited a new study.

The viewership data for five notable Instagram accounts with a collective following of 13.5 million people, including those of Hillary Clinton and GLAAD, an LGBTQ activist group whose topics ranged from voting information, reproductive rights, and advocacy for marginalized groups noted a significant decline, Bloomberg cited researchers at Accountable Tech.

Meta focused on political content control for  Instagram and Threads after facing flak for intensifying misinformation and partisan bias.

Prior reports indicated that Instagram and Threads users were grappling with an unexpected change in their political content settings.

Meta had faced global criticism for role the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot vandalism. Meta had suspended former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for two years after the incident.

Meta reinstated his accounts in February 2023 but emphasized that any further violations could result in “heightened penalties,” including suspensions lasting from one month to two years.

Meta Platforms stock has gained 69% in the last 12 months as it strives to generate shareholder value by growing its subscriber base for Instagram, Threads, Facebook while accomplishing its artificial intelligence ambitions as it battles competitors like TikTok and X. Investors can gain exposure to Meta Platforms through iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF IVW and iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF IWF.

META Stock Prediction For 2024

Meta Platforms revenue growth in FY23 was 15.69%, reflecting the influence of various factors including the macroeconomic environment, demand for its products and services, and its position relative to competitors. This growth is a critical indicator for investors assessing the company’s future prospects.

Some macro factors that could impact the company's performance in the next year include higher interest rates, progress on reeling in inflation and labor market strength. The Fed's benchmark rate is currently at 5.33%, while PPI recently came in at 0.1%, growing 2.2% from last year. The unemployment rate was most recently reported as 4.3%.

An investor should pay attention to economic conditions to decide whether they think the macro environment is positive or negative for Meta Platforms stock. For real time economic data and breaking market updates, check out Benzinga Pro. Try it for free.

How does this stack up against Meta Platforms's peers?

Investors may also want to analyze a stock in comparison to companies with similar products or in similar industries. Meta Platforms operates in the Communication Services sector. The stock has experienced average annual growth of 12.07% compared to the -6.8% average of its peer companies. This is above the broader sector movement of Meta Platforms.

Price Action: META shares traded higher by 0.74% at $519.79 premarket at the last check on Tuesday.

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