How Meta engages with stakeholders
UPDATED NOV 12, 2024
Integrating stakeholder feedback into the policymaking process is a core part of how Meta works. Though it's important we don’t overpromise, we know that what stakeholders seek above all is for their insights to inform our policy decisions.
Our approach to stakeholder engagement is based on private conversations, in person or on video conference. We’ve found this approach helps build more open dialogue and stronger external relationships. We sometimes convene group discussions, bringing together various stakeholders from particular regions or policy areas. We’ve found that group settings can be useful for generating new ideas and providing updates to multiple stakeholders.
We typically don't release the names of the people or organizations we engage with because these conversations can be sensitive, and we want people to be candid with us. Some stakeholders specifically request or even require confidentiality to engage with us – particularly members of vulnerable communities.
In conversations with external stakeholders, we share Meta's thinking on the proposed policy, including what led us to reconsider a given policy, as well as the pros and cons of policy options we've identified. The feedback we receive is then integrated into the review process and shapes our ongoing deliberations.
When the views of stakeholders conflict, as they often do, we analyze the spectrum of opinion and points of disagreement. Our task is to identify which views are most persuasive and instructive for us, but we’re not necessarily trying to reconcile every viewpoint; rather, our goal is to understand the full range of opinions about our proposals.
In some cases, we return to stakeholders for additional input, as our thinking develops, and we always let stakeholders know where we landed in our policy development. You can learn more about the stakeholder engagement that contributed to specific policy changes by checking the relevant Community Standards page.
How we update the Community Standards