1. Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica Scandal: In 2018, Facebook faced massive backlash after it was revealed that personal data of millions of users had been improperly shared with the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, impacting the 2016 US presidential elections.
2. Twitter’s Content Moderation: Twitter has faced criticism and controversies surrounding its content moderation policies. Issues related to harassment, hate speech, and misinformation have led to debates about the platform’s responsibility for regulating speech.
3. Facebook’s Election Interference: Facebook was criticized for its role in potential election interference and the spread of disinformation during various elections worldwide. It faced allegations of being used as a tool for propaganda during the US 2016 presidential election and other elections.
4. WhatsApp’s Misinformation Crisis: WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, faced controversies in several countries, particularly India and Brazil, where the platform was being used to spread false information leading to violence and communal tensions in some cases.
5. YouTube’s Brand Safety Concerns: YouTube has faced multiple controversies related to brand safety due to ads being placed alongside objectionable or extremist content. Advertisers became concerned about their brands’ association with such material, leading to a loss of revenue for the platform.
6. TikTok’s Chinese Ownership: TikTok, a popular social media platform, faced scrutiny due to its Chinese ownership under ByteDance. Concerns emerged surrounding censorship, data privacy, and potential ties to the Chinese government.
7. Twitter’s Hacking Incident: In July 2020, several high-profile Twitter accounts, including those of Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates, were hacked as part of a bitcoin scam. The incident raised questions about Twitter’s security measures and led to renewed concerns about data protection.
8. Facebook’s Advertisements Discrimination Lawsuit: Facebook faced a lawsuit in 2018 accusing the platform of allowing advertisers to target users based on race, violating fair housing laws. The lawsuit shed light on issues of discrimination and profiling on the platform.
9. Pinterest’s Workplace Discrimination Allegations: In 2020, Pinterest’s former COO filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination, bias, and retaliation within the company. It highlighted issues of workplace culture, diversity, and inclusion within social media organizations.
10. Snapchat’s Relevancy Controversy: Snapchat faced controversy in 2018 when a redesign of its app led to a significant backlash from users, causing a decline in user engagement and a drop in its stock price. The incident raised concerns about the platform’s ability to adapt to user preferences and market demands.
