L/A
Meta deleted nonbinary and trans themes for its Messenger app this week, around the same time that the company announced it would change its rules to allow users to declare that LGBTQ+ people are “mentally ill,” 404 Media has learned.
Meta’s Messenger app allows users to change the color scheme and design of their chat windows with different themes. For example, there is currently a “Squid Game” theme, a “Minecraft” theme, a “Basketball” theme, and a “Love” theme, among many others.
These themes regularly change, but for the last few years they have featured a “trans” theme and a “nonbinary” theme, which had color schemes that matched the trans pride flag and the non-binary pride flag. Meta did not respond to a request for comment about why the company removed these themes, but the change comes right as Mark Zuckerberg’s company is publicly and loudly shifting rightward to more closely align itself with the views of the incoming Donald Trump administration. 404 Media reported Thursday that many employees are protesting the anti LGBTQ+ changes and that “it’s total chaos internally at Meta right now” because of the changes.
Do you work at Meta? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at +1 202 505 1702.
The trans theme was announced for Pride Month in June 2021, and the nonbinary theme was announced in June 2022 in blog posts that highlighted Meta’s apparent support for trans and nonbinary people. Both of these posts are no longer online.
“This June and beyond, we want people to #ConnectWithPride because when we show up as the most authentic version of ourselves, we can truly connect with people,” the post announcing the trans theme originally said. “Starting today, in support of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, Messenger is launching new expression features and celebrating the artists and creators who not only developed them, but inspire us each and every day.”
The blog post announcing the nonbinary theme, meanwhile, read “Messenger is committed to building the safest private messaging experience that gives the growing LBGTQ+ community and its allies a trusted space to open up with confidence. Today, we’re celebrating International Non-Binary People’s Day through the release of new expression tools, including an all-new non-binary chat theme, sticker pack and word effects, in addition to new shortcuts available to easily access these new features.” The blog post featured a discussion between nonbinary members of Meta’s staff and a member of the LGBTQ+ rights organization The Trevor Project.
The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine shows these posts were both still live as of September 2024, the last time the announcement posts were archived. The chat themes that they were announcing were deleted this week, according to internal information obtained by 404 Media. We also confirmed that the themes are no longer active on Messenger. A “Pride” rainbow theme is still active.
Two current Meta employees told 404 Media that the nonbinary and trans themes were “retired” this week. A code change notice from this week obtained by 404 Media reads “Retire theme Transgender … this diff will retire the theme Transgender on both Messenger and Instagram.” A separate internal post by an employee reads “Does anyone know what happened to the non-binary themes in Messenger/IG and where out public facing content supporting this feature went? Is this related to the updated guidelines? Have there been any other related gender or LGBTQ design updates?”
One employee said these were deleted “without explanation or justification.”
The deletion of these themes coincides with Meta’s announcement of new content moderation rules that specifically allow for the targeting of LGBTQ+ people and, specifically, trans and nonbinary people. Internal guidelines obtained by both The Intercept and Platformer show that Meta is now telling content moderators that statements like "A trans person isn't a he or she, it's an it," and “Trans people aren't real. They're mentally ill,” and “This whole nonbinary thing is made up. Those people don't exist, they're just in need of some therapy" no longer violate its rules, according to Platformer. It also says, for example, “‘Tranny’ is no longer a designated slur and is now non-violating,” the Intercept reported.
“I’ve never seen morale this low. Most folks expected some change with the incoming administration’s hostility to gay and trans people but this just feels vicious, almost gleeful,” one current Meta employee told 404 Media about all of the changes at the company. “Some folks are cheerleading the change but most of the vocal people are against it. I’ve even heard open talk from coworkers mulling over resignations over this.”
About the author
Jason is a cofounder of 404 Media. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Motherboard. He loves the Freedom of Information Act and surfing.
Meta deleted nonbinary and trans themes for its Messenger app this week, around the same time that the company announced it would change its rules to allow users to declare that LGBTQ+ people are “mentally ill,” 404 Media has learned.
Meta’s Messenger app allows users to change the color scheme and design of their chat windows with different themes. For example, there is currently a “Squid Game” theme, a “Minecraft” theme, a “Basketball” theme, and a “Love” theme, among many others.
These themes regularly change, but for the last few years they have featured a “trans” theme and a “nonbinary” theme, which had color schemes that matched the trans pride flag and the non-binary pride flag. Meta did not respond to a request for comment about why the company removed these themes, but the change comes right as Mark Zuckerberg’s company is publicly and loudly shifting rightward to more closely align itself with the views of the incoming Donald Trump administration. 404 Media reported Thursday that many employees are protesting the anti LGBTQ+ changes and that “it’s total chaos internally at Meta right now” because of the changes.
Do you work at Meta? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at +1 202 505 1702.
The trans theme was announced for Pride Month in June 2021, and the nonbinary theme was announced in June 2022 in blog posts that highlighted Meta’s apparent support for trans and nonbinary people. Both of these posts are no longer online.
“This June and beyond, we want people to #ConnectWithPride because when we show up as the most authentic version of ourselves, we can truly connect with people,” the post announcing the trans theme originally said. “Starting today, in support of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, Messenger is launching new expression features and celebrating the artists and creators who not only developed them, but inspire us each and every day.”
The blog post announcing the nonbinary theme, meanwhile, read “Messenger is committed to building the safest private messaging experience that gives the growing LBGTQ+ community and its allies a trusted space to open up with confidence. Today, we’re celebrating International Non-Binary People’s Day through the release of new expression tools, including an all-new non-binary chat theme, sticker pack and word effects, in addition to new shortcuts available to easily access these new features.” The blog post featured a discussion between nonbinary members of Meta’s staff and a member of the LGBTQ+ rights organization The Trevor Project.
The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine shows these posts were both still live as of September 2024, the last time the announcement posts were archived. The chat themes that they were announcing were deleted this week, according to internal information obtained by 404 Media. We also confirmed that the themes are no longer active on Messenger. A “Pride” rainbow theme is still active.
Two current Meta employees told 404 Media that the nonbinary and trans themes were “retired” this week. A code change notice from this week obtained by 404 Media reads “Retire theme Transgender … this diff will retire the theme Transgender on both Messenger and Instagram.” A separate internal post by an employee reads “Does anyone know what happened to the non-binary themes in Messenger/IG and where out public facing content supporting this feature went? Is this related to the updated guidelines? Have there been any other related gender or LGBTQ design updates?”
One employee said these were deleted “without explanation or justification.”
The deletion of these themes coincides with Meta’s announcement of new content moderation rules that specifically allow for the targeting of LGBTQ+ people and, specifically, trans and nonbinary people. Internal guidelines obtained by both The Intercept and Platformer show that Meta is now telling content moderators that statements like "A trans person isn't a he or she, it's an it," and “Trans people aren't real. They're mentally ill,” and “This whole nonbinary thing is made up. Those people don't exist, they're just in need of some therapy" no longer violate its rules, according to Platformer. It also says, for example, “‘Tranny’ is no longer a designated slur and is now non-violating,” the Intercept reported.
“I’ve never seen morale this low. Most folks expected some change with the incoming administration’s hostility to gay and trans people but this just feels vicious, almost gleeful,” one current Meta employee told 404 Media about all of the changes at the company. “Some folks are cheerleading the change but most of the vocal people are against it. I’ve even heard open talk from coworkers mulling over resignations over this.”
About the author
Jason is a cofounder of 404 Media. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Motherboard. He loves the Freedom of Information Act and surfing.
