Federico Viticci 

At MacStories, we won't stand for Meta's dehumanizing, harmful moderation practices.

Fuck them and everyone who builds their business upon a semblance of "free speech" to ostracize minorities and all kinds of humans.

For this reason, we're leaving Threads and Instagram behind.

You can read about our decision here, and find some links to support different organizations today: https://www.macstories.net/stories/macstories-wont-stand-for-metas-dehumanizing-and-harmful-moderation-policies/

MacStories Won’t Stand for Meta’s Dehumanizing and Harmful Moderation Policies

Just over two years ago, MacStories left Twitter behind. We left when Elon Musk began dismantling the company’s trust and safety infrastructure, allowing hateful speech and harassment on the platform. Meta is now doing the same thing with Threads and Instagram, so we’re leaving them behind, too. We were initially optimistic about Threads because of

Jan 10, 2025 at 6:27pmWeb
Show threadsplaJan 10, 2025
@viticci well done 👏
Show threadKyle BradburyJan 10, 2025
@viticci thanks Federico. It’s your right to take a privileged stance and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Show threadRobert Jan SchuttenJan 10, 2025
@viticci Bravo! Just got rid of my threads account. Reconsidering Instagram as well.
Show threadIvy Rose TurnerJan 10, 2025
@viticci thank you 💜
Show threadKarin SorenbyJan 10, 2025
@viticci ☺️🙌thank u !
Show threadVNKRJan 10, 2025
@viticci thank you.
Show threadUK-Birmingham_UTVJan 10, 2025
@viticci I deleted both accounts and apps today.
Show threadTorsteinJan 10, 2025
@viticci @siracusa bravo!!!
Show threadAppleTalkJan 10, 2025
@viticci 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Show threadEpiS MPHJan 10, 2025
@viticci 🙌
Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 10, 2025

@viticci I applaud you 👏🏼

I never had an Instagram or Threads account and I put my FB account to sleep.

The real test is WhatsApp, of course. It cannot be ditched. Without it, we cannot communicate with anyone. I tried for a full year and fold.

Now, what…?

Show threadSimon IannelliJan 10, 2025
@stevesebban @viticci at least WhatsApp isn’t public and not monetized by ads. Not a solution but if we leave behind the rest it is still a win.
Not sure where to go as a commercial photographer instead of instagram though.
Show threadRihards OlupsJan 10, 2025
@simoniannelli @stevesebban @viticci For portfolio or "reach"?
Show threadSimon IannelliJan 11, 2025
@richlv @stevesebban @viticci for “reach” in brackets as I don’t have a big following ;) but also to see the work of colleagues
Show threaderrorbodyJan 10, 2025

@simoniannelli @stevesebban @viticci

Have you ever considered @pixelfed?

Show threadD. RobinetteJan 10, 2025
@simoniannelli @stevesebban @viticci
May I recommend glass.photo as your Instagram alternative.
Show threadMichael PorterJan 10, 2025
@stevesebban @viticci Signal? I don't know much about it, but I've heard it touted as a private, non-meta alternative.
Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

@MichaelPorter @viticci Signal is not really an option since almost no one use it and no business presence at all.

Trying to move yours friends/colleagues/client to a new communication platform is an impossible task. I tried for a full year when WA updated their license agreement a few years ago. I eventually gave up as no one was making the effort.

The same is true about iMessage btw. Huge installation base, virtually no one uses it outside the USA.

Show threadMichael PorterJan 11, 2025

@stevesebban @viticci Most of the people I message with (i.e. the vast majority, with one or two exceptions) are on iMessage. We're outside the USA, for now...

Don't know enough about Signal, but when I signed on, it came up with several of my contacts who were already using it.

I get your point about the difficulty of migrating people to another platform. Over the years I've tried changing habits of groups, only to be met with lots of inertia. One time, I was just trying to get people to use an easy, obvious feature in the software they were already using... 🙄
But I'm hoping the blatant enshittification of meta will encourage people to consider leaving. Like I said, their policies are toxic and harmful to a few members of my family.

Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

@MichaelPorter @viticci But you’re American, right?

I have to say that WhatsApp is getting better and better. It is evolving much faster than iMessage and it is now more convenient to use. All my friends that still used iMessage switched this year. Some being die hard apple fanboys say volume about the situation. I just wish that it has an iPad and Apple Watch app but I am not holding my breath.

Show threadMichael PorterJan 11, 2025

@stevesebban @viticci Nope, 🇨🇦

With respect to WhatsApp, the question isn’t so much usability as it is distaste at Meta’s latest policy changes. They may not affect WhatsApp directly, but when I ditch a company, I try to ditch the whole company.

I recognize that without becoming a tech-free hermit, there’s no way to completely detach from corporate shittiness. But it’s still worth the effort to send a message that we expect better.

Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

@MichaelPorter @viticci I hear you. I should have phrased my question as “North America” instead of “USA”.

I am not defending or advocating for WhatsApp, far from it. My point is that we arrived at the state that WA is the de facto worldwide standard for any form of instant message. The exceptions are three markets: China with WeChat, North America with iMessage/SMS, and South Korea. (1/3)

Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

Most of today’s direct communications are in the hands of one single, private company. It is quite astonishing that governments all over the world let this happen.

Meta aggressively developed WA for business in the last few years, and we are close to the point that you can’t get service or customer support without WA. More companies don’t even offer a phone number or an email anymore, and they redirect you to their WA support, for the worse, of course. (2/3)

Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

You can ditch WhatsApp because you have options; most of the world sadly does not…

We need urgently a public, advanced, feature-rich, open-source, cross-platform, and secure alternative protocol to replace SMS. (And it is not RCS…) I don’t see this happening anytime soon… (3/3)

Show threadMichael PorterJan 11, 2025

@stevesebban @viticci True. Two points, though:

First, I'm personally only concerned with what works for me, my family, and friends. We're mostly in NA, so what the norm is in other places doesn't concern me too much. WhatsApp has come to the fore when travelling, though.

Second, all of these services got their start somewhere, as little-known apps that gradually took hold. It's possible for a new paradigm to take their place, we just have to help it along.

Show threadAmmarJan 11, 2025
@stevesebban @viticci Translation: I deleted my profiles where deletion was of little to no inconvenience to me. But where it shows a real test of my principals, iT CaNnOt bE DitchEd
Show threadJonathan ReedJan 11, 2025
@ammarmalik @stevesebban @viticci So should I delete WhatsApp and cut off communication from my 75 year old mother who will only use that outside of our weekly call?
I totally get your point about it being a test of principals but for those who rely on it to communicate with people who won’t come off WhatsApp it’s an almost impossible choice. I wish I could come off it personally.
Show threadAmmarJan 11, 2025
@jonathanreed @stevesebban @viticci u can setup one of thousands of alternative IM apps for ur mother. It’s not just u though, Viticci is the same. Where was his virtue signaling when Tim Cook donated to Trump’s inauguration? No big chest thumping blog posts about that. What’s he going to do? Boycott Apple products? That’s his whole identity. If ur going to selectively apply your principles and morals, the best u can do is not be so vocal about it.
Show threadJonathan ReedJan 11, 2025
@ammarmalik @stevesebban @viticci I think we differ on this so I’m going to leave it there.
I believe what I and also MacStories are doing is not virtue signalling and is making a statement. You’re free to disagree with that.
Show threadMauriceJan 11, 2025
@stevesebban @viticci I denied to use Whatsapp some years ago. Some people were really annoyed, but now nearly everyone uses signal or telegram at least as a second messenger. Sometimes you have to be the one getting on people's nerves to change things.
Show threadSteve Sebban, CSIJan 11, 2025

@mauricerenck Tried this for a full year when WA updated their user policy a few years ago

I advocated for Signal. A lot of my friends tried to use it because of me. They saw no improvement in their day-to-day usage. None sticked and everyone returned back to WA after a few weeks/months. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I don’t know of one person that still has Signal installed.

Telegram is a no-go of course since it is not really E2E encrypted (the devil is in the fine print) and the owner is really shady

Show threadPatrick WunderlichJan 10, 2025
@viticci @siracusa ❤️
Show threadwakest likes your bugs ⁂Jan 10, 2025
@viticci bravo! Impressed with your speed on this
Show threadCasper 👻Jan 10, 2025
@viticci
Bravo gang!
Show threadthe kamala harris of going to bed at a reasonable timeJan 10, 2025
@viticci i am so glad to see the seemingly broader backlash against this
Show threadStefan BohacekJan 10, 2025
@viticci Very much applaud this decision.
Show thread@[email protected] Has MovedJan 10, 2025

@viticci

I salute your decision! I have to say that I am an infrequent visitor to your site, but that is definitely going to change

Show threadLarsJan 10, 2025
@viticci amazing! thank you
Show threadTod Maffin 🇨🇦Jan 10, 2025
@viticci Outstanding. I’m already a subscriber but am about to upgrade to the Plus version. Thank you for putting principles above profit.
Show threadFediThing Jan 10, 2025

@viticci

Thank you for doing this! 👏

Show threadmiaJan 10, 2025
@viticci Thank you, Federico and John. Not a lot of people in media will have the spine (or the financial independence) to take such a step. Believe me when I say that doing this means a lot to your queer followers. ♥️
Show threadOblomovJan 10, 2025
@viticci I really like how your Mastodon presence is on the macstories.net domain itself. “Fediverse done right”. Kudos.
Show threadSteven Op de beeckJan 10, 2025
@viticci 👏
Show threadmarlies Jan 10, 2025
@viticci well done!
Show threadAnthony Lee (Created Hey.Cafe)Jan 10, 2025
@viticci Nice!!! I love that you are giving the finger to Meta. I run a social network that has clear rules against hate speech and made to be a safe space, so we would love you have you. https://hey.cafe
Hey.Café

A new social network designed to be fast, contains no ads, and respects your privacy. Share in a safe online community and make new friends.

Hey.Café
Show threadsb arms & legsJan 10, 2025

@viticci
Good on you, all!

Thank you for taking the only reasonable stance.

Show threadgilloJan 10, 2025
@viticci Bravi! 👏
Show threadSascha Brossmann (he/him) 🇪🇺🇺🇦Jan 10, 2025
@viticci 👏👏👏
Show threadColJan 10, 2025
@viticci
Show threadmaggiecnighsJan 10, 2025
@viticci right on!
Show threadamdJan 10, 2025
@viticci good stuff. You’re on the right side of history.
Show threadstux⚡️Jan 11, 2025
@viticci Thank you for taking a stance 💪
Show threadeuroplus Jan 11, 2025
@viticci ✊🏻
Show threadFiXatoJan 11, 2025
@viticci don't forget to update your about page :)
Show threadAndy Welfle 🪐Jan 11, 2025

@viticci good for you! I am ashamed that i worked there. It was like 10 years ago, but i think we’re seeing that this is always who Zuck was.

(It was a blast hosting you and the guys though!)

Show threadLuxJan 11, 2025
@viticci Ok✌️
Show threadTodd Heberlein (social)Jan 11, 2025

@viticci
From a post 6 years ago.
“Facebook once again demonstrates that like the scorpion, it can’t help but do what it does. … They bend rules, break rules, and lie or mislead about what they have done with regularity and with no evidence of true remorse.“

https://www.toddheberlein.com/blog/2019/1/30/facebook-as-the-scorpion?rq=Scorpion

Facebook as the scorpion — Todd Heberlein

There is a famous parable called the Scorpion and the Fox. Facebook is clearly a scorpion. Central to their business is the collection of as much information as possible about people, so Facebook can help their customers optimally manipulate you. Facebook just can’t help itself but behave the way it

Todd Heberlein
Show thread✨🏳️‍⚧️Timelordiroh 🇵🇸Jan 12, 2025

@viticci Thank you for taking a public stand. ❤️

I want to also thank you for grouping in Threads and (especially instagram). I don't know why, but so many people are treating instagram as if it's somehow separate from Facebook/Meta.