Russian Invasion of Ukraine: How Social Media Platforms Responded

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is no longer breaking news as updates abound even on social media platforms.

After deploying a massive arsenal of missiles and rockets, they had invaded Ukraine after deploying a massive arsenal of missiles and rockets into Ukraine.

And because of this, many global humanitarian organisations, countries, and social media are looking for ways to curb the war.

Social media platforms have started responding to the ongoing war as some have taken action.

They have started restricting some accounts in Ukraine, including some governmental accounts belonging to Russian state media organisations.

Platforms like YouTube and Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram and Twitter have been involved.

Meta’s head of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said in a tweet on Sunday that it came as a request of the Ukrainian government.

They had requested to “silence important expression at a crucial time”.

In another tweet by Clegg, the Ukrainian government has also made another request.

“The Ukrainians have also suggested that we remove access to Facebook and Instagram in Russia. However, people in Russia are using FB and IG to protest and organize against the war and as a source of independent information,”

Also, YouTube, an American online video sharing platform, blocked some Russian state media outlets and suspended their ability to monetise money globally.

Also, YouTube said it was a request from the Ukrainian government to cut off access in Ukraine.

It had cited “extraordinary circumstance in Ukraine”.

YouTube would pause the monetization of Russian channels that comes in line with the recent attack by the Russian military in Ukraine.

And they would limit recommendations to channels that promote the war.

Also, YouTube has plans to impose more constraints depending on new development.

And channels and videos that involve coordinated deception would be removing them.

Facebook removes accounts pushing fake news about the happening in Ukraine

Meta’s Facebook has started disabling the misinformation accounts of those individuals and sites pushing fake news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to Meta, “It’s a sign that while these actors are trying to run these types of influence operations, they’re getting caught sooner and they’re not reaching the audiences that they would have reached even a few years ago,”

They have set up multiple fake accounts on social platforms to appear real to investigators.

Asides, Meta says that the accounts of Ukrainian military officials and public figures are under target.

Also, it added that it is alerting accounts it suspects to be targeted, and it is taking unknown steps to secure accounts.

Twitter has said to be removing disinformation on its platform regarding the ongoing war.

It has banned more than a dozen account sharing links to a propaganda site named Ukraine Today.

ALSO READ: Russia Invades Ukraine: Let’s Compare Their Military Power

Many other platforms are taking the lead to help curb the invasion into Ukraine.

Google has disenabled the live traffic feature offered by Google Maps in Ukraine.

This is to protect the safety of users against the attack deployed by Russia.

The feature shows traffic delays on the road and busy businesses and stores.

This was done through anonymous location data collected from smartphones.

According to experts, the information would offer insight into the invasion’s progress.