Counter Culture / October 7, 2020

Facebook is banning all QAnon conspiracy pages

Counter Culture / October 7, 2020

Facebook is banning all QAnon conspiracy pages

Words: Katie Gartland
Photo: Mashable

The social media network will remove pages and information promoting the growing conspiracy theory.

Yesterday, (Tuesday 6 October) Facebook revealed it would ban all accounts and pages pushing QAnon conspiracy pages. It has also removed accounts, groups, pages and hashtags regarding the theory from Instagram.

This is one of the first times Zuckerberg’s social media platform has taken a direct stance against the spreading of misinformation online.

The QAnon conspiracy originated on the site 4Chan, it sees President Donald Trump as a superhero character in opposition to a child-trafficking ring run by the Democratic politicians in the United States. A user named Q has been uploading information onto the 4Chan message board, which has subsequently seeped onto more mainstream social media platforms.

Yesterday Facebook announced that they would be removing all pages regarding this conspiracy, including those that do not incite violence.

It comes after their failed attempt to crackdown on conspirators in August when the social media platform introduced new restrictions.