Yelp Temporarily Suspends Reviews on McDonald's Hosting Trump

/ Yelp, McDonald's, Trump, Reviews, Politics

When and Where

On October 22, 2024, Yelp decided to suspend the commenting feature for a particular McDonald's location. This McDonald's, which came under the spotlight for hosting former President Donald Trump, is situated in an undisclosed location.

Why the Suspension?

The decision was made in response to a surge of one-star ratings. These reviews were predominantly political in nature, rather than reflective of diners' actual experiences at the restaurant. Many users took to the platform to express their disapproval over the restaurant's association with Trump.

Who Made This Decision?

Yelp, a well-known business directory service and crowd-sourced review forum, took the initiative to pause the comment section. This action is part of Yelp’s policy where reviews that support or oppose political events or individuals are viewed as biased and are thus temporarily controlled.

How it Works

Yelp possesses an automated system designed to detect unusual activity trends in reviews, especially after media coverage or public events influence user activity. Once identified, Yelp can temporarily disable reviews to ensure fair ratings and then check for adherence to their content guidelines.

The Implications

While the move is intended to maintain the integrity and objectivity of reviews, it also highlights the broader intersection of politics and consumer behavior. Various online platforms have similarly had to adapt their policies in response to politically motivated behavior from users.

This development was initially reported by CNBC.

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