Author Stephen King announced he was quitting Facebook over the weekend, citing concerns over user privacy and false information.
King broke the news Friday on Twitter, which he has also declared his social media platform of choice now that he’s officially cutting ties with Facebook.
“I’m quitting Facebook,” the author wrote in the tweet. “Not comfortable with the flood of false information that’s allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in its ability to protect its users’ privacy. Follow me (and Molly, aka The Thing of Evil) on Twitter, if you like.”
King’s Facebook profile has since been deleted, CNN reported Sunday.
I'm quitting Facebook. Not comfortable with the flood of false information that's allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in its ability to protect its users' privacy. Follow me (and Molly, aka The Thing of Evil) on Twitter, if you like.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 1, 2020
King’s concerns are well founded. In January, Facebook met increasing scrutiny over false political ads with the announcement that it would not ban political advertising or institute any measures to halt the spread of false information in political ads on the platform. Just a few months earlier, the company announced that it was lifting its regulations against hate speech for politicians on the grounds that any such content is inherently “newsworthy.”
Twitter, by contrast announced in October that it would stop accepting political ads.
If you’re feeling inspired by Stephen King’s Facebook exit, check out this handy guide so you, too, can escape Zuckerberg’s hellscape.
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