Zuckerberg Orders Removal of Tampons from Men’s Bathrooms at Meta Office: Report
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has initiated a wave of significant policy changes within the company, drawing both internal and external attention. Among these shifts, as reported by The New York Times (NYT), is the removal of tampons and sanitary products from men’s bathrooms across Meta’s offices. This decision, along with other controversial moves, is being viewed as part of a broader strategy to align the tech giant’s policies with the values of the incoming political administration.
The NYT article, titled “Mark Zuckerberg’s Sprint to Remake Meta for the Trump Era,” highlights the widespread adjustments affecting Meta’s internal culture and external practices. Facilities managers at the company’s offices in Silicon Valley, Texas, and New York were reportedly instructed to remove tampons and sanitary pads, which had previously been stocked for transgender and non-binary employees. Two employees, speaking anonymously, confirmed the directive to the NYT.
Zuckerberg Reshapes Meta’s Policies, Faces Criticism
The changes come amid Zuckerberg’s public commitment to recalibrate Meta’s approach to content moderation and freedom of expression. Earlier this week, Zuckerberg announced the end of fact-checking practices and the lifting of speech restrictions on Facebook and Instagram. In a statement explaining the decision, he said, “Our content moderation practices have gone too far,” and emphasized the need to “restore free expression” on the company’s platforms.
Additionally, recent reports suggest that Meta has also dismantled key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs as part of this overhaul. Transgender and non-binary themes were quietly removed from the company’s Messenger app, signaling a broader rollback of initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ communities. Furthermore, as per the reports, the policy shift has loosened restrictions on content containing hate speech directed at certain races, religions, and sexual orientations, as well as derogatory statements targeting mental health based on gender or sexual identity.
The internal response to these sweeping changes has been fraught with tension. Employees in Meta’s @Pride group, a community dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ issues within the company, expressed concern over the new policies on Workplace, the company’s internal communication platform. At least one employee announced their resignation in protest, with others reportedly considering similar actions.
Inclusivity Debate Flares at Meta
Before all this, the social media giant also revealed that it would be halting its use of third-party fact-checkers across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Instead, the company plans to allow users to add their notes to posts.
In an interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg addressed speculation that these changes were designed to curry favor with the incoming Trump administration. While denying any direct appeasement, he acknowledged the influence of the political climate on his decisions. “We got to this point where there were these things that you couldn’t say that were just mainstream discourse,” he remarked, justifying the rollback of restrictions on speech.
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The policy overhaul has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum. President-elect Donald Trump and conservative figures have praised the changes as a step toward greater free expression. Conversely, President Joe Biden and progressive groups have criticized Meta’s decisions, warning of heightened risks for vulnerable communities online and offline. LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations have raised alarms about the potential for increased harassment and discrimination stemming from the relaxed content moderation policies.
As the dust settles on these controversial changes, Meta finds itself at the center of a heated debate over the balance between freedom of speech, inclusivity, and corporate responsibility. For many employees, the company’s redefined direction marks an uncertain and challenging new chapter.
