Meta hits all-time low for LGBTQ+ safety in new GLAAD report

A new social media report from GLAAD shows that Meta has hit an all-time low when it comes to safety for its LGBTQ+ users.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation’s Social Media Safety Index confirmed that Meta’s policy changes on Facebook, Instagram and Threads have made the platforms more harmful for queer users, particularly trans and non-binary people.

The news comes after a year in which Meta has been scaling back best practice policies surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and loosening its hateful conduct policies.

In 2025, Meta’s policy changes included allowing anti-LGBTQ+ terminology when referring to queer people, removing protections for LGBTQ+ people, modifying sections of its Hateful Conduct policy to allow anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and ending its DEI and US fact-checking programmes, amongst others.

Over the past few years, Meta has also been routinely accused of removing LGBTQ+ content and accounts from its platforms following false user reports and then denying any meaningful ways to appeal the removals.

The tech company also controversially appointed right-wing, anti-DEI pundit Robby Starbuck as its AI advisor in August last year. Starbuck’s appointment came as part of a settlement when he sued Meta after its AI chatbot falsely claimed he took part in the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

In October, he was accused of “peddling lies and pushing extremism” in his new role by Heidi Beirich, the co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Index showed that YouTube and X are both also on the decline for LGBTQ+ safety. YouTube scored 30 out of 100, showing a drop of 11 points from last year, while X unsurprisingly scored the lowest of any platform evaluated, with 29 out of 100 (one point lower than 2025).

TikTok was the only platform to not decline, scoring 56 out of 100 for the second year in a row. The video sharing site made few LGBTQ+-related policy changes over the last year, which helped it to maintain its score.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said of the overall findings: “Leading social media companies today do not meet basic best practices in content moderation, transparency, data privacy, and workforce diversity.”

She continued: “Continuously refuse to meaningfully prioritise the safety, privacy, and expression of LGBTQ people and other marginalised communities.”

Ellis also noted that advertisers should question commitments to LGBTQ+ safety and the disregard for the safety of LGBTQ users as they plan which platforms to continue to support.

“To LGBTQ creators, advocates, and organisations targeted on and by these platforms: these companies need to hear from you,” she urged.

“The threats in your DMs, the disinformation fueling anti-LGBTQ legislation, and the bullying that leads to real-world violence are not just ‘part of the job.’ They are systemic failures that tech leaders have the tools to fix, yet they choose to profit from them instead.”

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