In the ever-evolving tech and social media arenas, few figures capture public attention like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Dana White. Each commands their domain—Zuckerberg steering the Meta empire, Musk reshaping social discourse with X, and White electrifying the UFC. But what happens when their worlds converge?

That’s exactly what unfolded recently when Zuckerberg, in an unexpected move, caught the attention of Musk and White with a decision that could redefine Meta’s future. The tech titans and the UFC boss now find themselves aligned on a topic as controversial as it is transformative: the way social media platforms moderate speech!

The Meta CEO has decided to abandon independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, embracing a “community notes” system inspired by Elon Musk’s X platform. In a video message by Zuckerberg accompanied by a blog post by the company, it was revealed that “Starting in the US, we are ending our third party fact-checking program and moving to a Community Notes model. We will allow more speech by lifting restrictions on some topics that are part of mainstream discourse and focusing our enforcement on illegal and high-severity violations.”

The fact-checking program, which had been in place since 2016, often referred flagged posts to independent organizations for verification. Critics argued that the process stifled free speech and disproportionately targeted certain viewpoints. Zuckerberg echoed these concerns, stating that moderators had become “too politically biased.” He emphasized the need to “get back to our roots around free expression.”

The decision quickly drew reactions from Zuckerberg’s contemporaries. Elon Musk, whose platform X has implemented a similar system, expressed his enthusiasm in a single tweet: “This is cool.” Musk’s endorsement of the move highlights the growing influence of X’s model on its competitors, cementing his belief in community-driven moderation.

But it was Dana White’s response that stole the spotlight. “You are COOL!!!” the UFC boss exclaimed in response to the update shared by Musk.  After all, White has also recently joined Meta as a member of its board of directors.

For now, the changes will only affect users in the U.S., with Meta maintaining its existing fact-checking systems in Europe. The company also clarified that content promoting topics like self-harm or eating disorders will still be strictly monitored, addressing some concerns raised by critics. However, the move has earned Mark Zuckerberg an unexpected round of applause from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Once the harshest critic of social media giants, Trump is now singing a different tune, praising the Meta CEO for what he sees as a step toward fairness!

Donald Trump lauds Zuckerberg as Meta’s latest move comes just ahead of him taking office  

At a recent press conference, Donald Trump expressed his approval of Meta’s decision to ditch third-party fact-checkers. Sharing his approval for Zuckerberg’s decision, he stated that the company has “come a long way”, emphasizing that the platform had finally recognized its mistakes.

For years, Trump and his Republican allies have accused Meta of “censorship,” claiming its policies disproportionately targeted right-wing voices. Zuckerberg, however, has painted the move as more than just a nod to critics. “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point…” he said in the video message.

He also explained the need to return to Meta’s roots—prioritizing free speech. The company’s blog echoed this sentiment, criticizing the “mission creep” of its past rules. “It’s not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms,” it declared.

With Trump set to take office soon, Meta’s decision feels more strategic than coincidental. This wasn’t just a policy update—it was a well-crafted olive branch. According to reports, Meta also informed Trump’s team of the changes before making them public. Zuckerberg has also taken steps to mend fences with the new administration. He visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in November and has pledged $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.

Add Dana White, a Trump confidant and UFC boss, to Meta’s board of directors, and you have all the makings of a highly intriguing situation. Trump’s glowing words have certainly given Zuckerberg a rare moment in the spotlight as a potential champion of free speech. But questions remain. Is this the dawn of a freer internet? Or is it just a calculated PR move to win favor with the new administration? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!