New York — Instagram, a platform synonymous with connectivity and personal expression, is now at the center of a heated controversy as users claim difficulties in unfollowing accounts tied to the Trump administration. The issue, which has drawn complaints from celebrities like Demi Lovato and Gracie Abrams, has reignited concerns about Meta’s transparency and political neutrality, raising questions about its influence over public opinion and discourse.
Gracie Abrams’ candid remarks on her Instagram story have served as a flashpoint for the ongoing debate. The singer detailed her repeated attempts to unfollow the official accounts for the President (@potus) and Vice President (@vp), only to find that the platform seemed to refollow them automatically. Her frustration was evident as she described the situation as “curious” and ultimately resorted to blocking the accounts altogether. Demi Lovato echoed similar frustrations, revealing that despite unfollowing Donald Trump’s account twice in one day, her actions did not appear to be effective.
These complaints have resonated with many Instagram users, who have shared their own experiences and issued warnings urging others to double-check their followed accounts. Adding fuel to the fire, reports surfaced this week suggesting that Instagram temporarily blocked the hashtag #Democrat, prompting accusations of partisan censorship. In response, Meta’s spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the hashtag issue but dismissed claims of political bias. He explained that the glitch affected multiple hashtags and was unrelated to any ideological agenda. Stone assured users that the company was actively working to resolve the issue.
Addressing the unfollowing complaints, Meta firmly denied allegations that users were being forced to follow Trump, Vice President JD Vance, or First Lady Melania Trump. Stone explained that the apparent glitches stemmed from the administrative transition of official accounts, a process that occurs during every presidential change. He stressed that the current procedures mirrored those implemented during the transition from the Obama administration to Trump’s in 2017. According to Stone, delays in follow and unfollow requests were an expected consequence of this handoff period.
While Meta’s clarifications aim to assuage user concerns, the controversy has amplified scrutiny of the company’s recent policy decisions. In the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration, Meta announced a series of changes that critics argue reflect a conservative shift. The appointment of UFC president and Trump ally Dana White to Meta’s board of directors, coupled with the replacement of its chief policy officer with a Republican figure, has raised eyebrows. Furthermore, the termination of Meta’s third-party fact-checking program in the United States and the loosening of its hateful conduct policies have drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and users alike.
The company’s recent decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has further fueled discontent. Advocacy organizations and industry experts have criticized the move as a step backward in fostering inclusion and accountability on digital platforms. On the same day that Meta announced the discontinuation of these programs, CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast to defend the company’s direction. Zuckerberg argued that past efforts to enforce strict content moderation and fact-checking had eroded user trust and that the current changes were necessary to restore confidence in Meta’s platforms.
Zuckerberg’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration alongside prominent tech leaders has only heightened scrutiny of Meta’s perceived political alignment. For many users, the controversy surrounding Instagram’s handling of political accounts has become emblematic of larger concerns about the company’s role in shaping the digital public sphere. As criticism continues to mount, Meta faces a growing challenge in maintaining user trust and demonstrating its commitment to fairness and transparency in an increasingly polarized environment.
