The Blubber

In what appeared to be an attempt to gain favor with then-President-elect Donald Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ordered the removal of tampons from all men’s restrooms in company offices. This decision wasn’t about saving money or improving efficiency — it required deliberate effort, served no practical purpose, and sent a clear signal about the company’s shifting priorities.

Since Trump’s election, Zuckerberg has overseen a series of policy changes at Meta that critics warn could encourage hate speech, misinformation, and harassment on its platforms. Under his leadership, Meta eliminated fact-checkers for Community Notes, lifted restrictions on certain forms of hate speech, ended diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and removed trans-inclusive features from its apps. At the same time, the company reinstated political content recommendations that could amplify extremist views. These changes align with long-standing conservative complaints that social media companies are biased against the right.

Employee Pushback and Silent Defiance
In response, some progressive Meta employees have quietly pushed back in small but symbolic ways.

Shortly after tampons, liners, and pads were removed from men’s restrooms earlier this month, they mysteriously reappeared—not through company policy, but through the quiet defiance of employees who restocked the supplies themselves. According to five anonymous sources cited by The New York Times, employees also circulated a petition urging Meta to restore the amenities.

Meta, however, stood by its decision. In a statement, the company reportedly said it was "not the intention of Meta leadership to make employees feel unwelcome or excluded in our offices, [but] at this point, we do not have plans to revisit our on-site amenities offerings." The company did add that the feedback had been shared with leadership.