Why Facebook and Instagram Automatically Followed Trump for You

Washington – The recent transfer of power in the United States has led to an unexpected surprise for many Facebook and Instagram users: finding themselves automatically following the official accounts of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

According to a report by the Associated Press, this automatic following was not a mistake but a deliberate process. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed that the transition of the official POTUS and White House accounts happens whenever a new administration assumes office. Meta spokesman Andy Stone clarified that followers of the previous administration’s accounts are automatically transferred to those of the new administration.

For those who prefer not to follow the Trump administration’s accounts, the solution is simple. Users can click on the ellipsis menu on the profile pages of these accounts and select “unfollow” or “block.” As of Tuesday, the archived POTUS account of former President Joe Biden retained 11 million followers, the same number as Trump’s current POTUS account.

Meanwhile, Instagram users have reported a separate issue when searching for hashtags like "#Democrat" or "#Democrats," which display a "results hidden" message. Meta insists this is a broader technical problem unrelated to politics, impacting various hashtags across the platform. Andy Stone, Meta’s communications director, explained on Threads, “This is an issue affecting people's ability to search for a number of different hashtags on Instagram — not just those on the left.”

However, some users have noticed discrepancies, such as “#Republicans” showing fewer results than “#Republican,” sparking accusations of political bias. Meta has assured users it is working urgently to resolve the problem.

Adding to the controversy, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s evolving relationship with President Trump has raised eyebrows. Zuckerberg, who attended Trump’s inauguration, has announced plans to end partnerships with independent fact-checkers, citing concerns over excessive censorship. “It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression,” Zuckerberg stated.

Meta is also scaling back its diversity initiatives in alignment with Trump’s policies to end federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The company’s leadership team has undergone changes as well, including the appointment of Joel Kaplan, a figure with ties to the Republican Party. These developments have sparked debates over Meta’s commitment to combating misinformation and promoting diversity.