Set default hidden meta boxes and meta box order for users in WordPress

gistfile1.php

<?php
/*
 * This filter specifies default orderings for meta boxes on article screens.
 *
 * If a user-specific setting exists for the hidden/order list then that is used
 *
 * The get_<objecttype>_metadata filter is odd. It's always passed "null" as a value. If
 * we return a non-null value then that value is used. If we return null, it will fetch the
 * real value.  Watch out for that!
 */
add_filter('get_user_metadata', 'prefix_default_meta_order', 10, 3);
function prefix_default_meta_order($value, $user_id, $key) {
    $new_value = $value;
    if ($key == 'metaboxhidden_post') {
        // We don't want this to recurse - remove the filter
        remove_filter('get_user_metadata', 'prefix_default_meta_order', 10);
        if (!metadata_exists('user', $user_id, $key)) {
            // Return value needs to be wrapped in an array as it's expecing a single result.
            $new_value = array(array('trackbacksdiv', 'postcustom', 'commentstatusdiv', 'slugdiv', 'authordiv', 'formatdiv'));
        }
        add_filter('get_user_metadata', 'prefix_default_meta_order', 10, 3);
    } else if ($key == 'meta-box-order_post') {
        // We don't want this to recurse - remove the filter
        remove_filter('get_user_metadata', 'prefix_default_meta_order', 10);
        if (!metadata_exists('user', $user_id, $key)) {
            $new_order = array(
                'advanced' => '',
                'side' => 'icl_div,submitdiv,article-typediv,topics-issues,institutiondiv,locationdiv,postimagediv,tagsdiv-post_tag,tagsdiv-temp-other-category',
                'normal' => 'postexcerpt,wpseo_meta,article-options,publications,related_items,revisionsdiv,trackbacksdiv,commentsdiv,icl_div_config,postcustom,commentstatusdiv,slugdiv,authordiv,historical-meta',
            );
            // Return value needs to be wrapped in an array as it's expecing a single result.
            $new_value = array($new_order);
        }
        add_filter('get_user_metadata', 'prefix_default_meta_order', 10, 3);        
    }

    return $new_value;
}