Facebook promised to tackle fake news. But the evidence shows it's not working

Following pressure from users, the social network introduced tools to stem the spread of false information. But the rollout has been rocky at bestWhen Facebook’s new fact-checking system labeled a Newport Buzz article as possible “fake news”, warning users against sharing it, something unexpected happened. Traffic to the story skyrocketed, according to Christian Winthrop, editor of the local Rhode Island website.“A bunch of conservative groups grabbed this and said, ‘Hey, they are trying to silence this blog – share, share share,’” said Winthrop, who published the story that falsely claimed hundreds of thousands of Irish people were brought to the US as slaves. “With Facebook trying to throttle it and say, ‘Don’t share it,’ it actually had the opposite effect.” Related: Bursting the Facebook bubble: we asked voters on the left and right to swap feeds These stories are like flash grenades. If you’re three days late on a fact check, you already missed the boat Related: Facebook announces steps against fake news during general election Related: Defining fake news will help us expose it | Paul Chadwick Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Facebook promised to tackle fake news. But the evidence shows it's not working"


Can You Believe It?: PW Talks with Donald Barclay

We sit down with the author and librarian about his new book, 'Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies,' and ask why it’s more important than ever to consider the source. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Fast show helps Politics surge

Much has been made of readers reverting to traditional and trusted media sources in an era of ‘fake news’, a claim borne out by BookScan figures. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tech firms fear regulation nightmare if MPs get their way

Report into fake news could put legal burden on firms such as Twitter and Facebook to remove harmful and illegal contentFacebook, Twitter and Google could face their worst regulation nightmares if the recommendations of parliament’s report into fake news, based on a leaked version published on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Local Focus, Global Reach: Inside Time Out’s Ambitious Ascent

Global recommendations purveyor Time Out Group—which, a decade ago, essentially consisted of two weekly magazines and a licensing business—today boasts owned and operated media brands in 76 cities around the globe, licensing arrangements in a further 32, and an events business that tripled in... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook advertises for 'fake news' fact checkers

Firm changes initial ad for ‘news credibility specialists’ to ‘news publisher specialists’Facebook has advertised for “news credibility specialists” to fact-check content that appears on its site, after accusations of bias and the ongoing controversy over fake news. Almost two years after the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2018: At PEN Panel, Free Speech and Race Go Hand in Hand

This year’s PEN America–hosted BookExpo panel saw journalists and a civil rights activist debate the meaning of free speech in an era of “fake news” and deep racial tensions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Facebook ignores memes, even fake news about Mark Zuckerberg spreads like wildfire

A few days ago, the Columbia Journalism Review published a thorough and frightening look into Facebook’s fact-checking program. The social network enlists organizations like Snopes and PolitiFact to scroll through thousands of contested articles and deem how factual they are. As CJR writes, the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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​Facebook and Google executives clash over ‘fake news’

A head-to-head debate between the executives leading Facebook and Google’s efforts to court publishers revealed sharp divisions between the two internet companies’ approaches to stemming “fake news” and disinformation. Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2018-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Announces Initiative to Help Publishers and Combat Fake News

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[ AdWeek | 2018-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fake news is Twitter's flu: Chips with Everything podcast

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[ The Guardian | 2018-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rupert Murdoch suggests Facebook should pay 'trusted' publishers for news content

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[ Betanews | 2018-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Long Con

It’s easy enough to believe that this is an especially awful moment for truth—in part because it is. But in a new book Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News, Kevin Young shows that the concepts listed in his title have been around in America for a very... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IPA’s Chief Calls on Publishers To Be ‘Stewards of Truth’

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook's new media guidelines are focused on stopping fake news

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[ Engadget | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The tech giants operate like cars without brakes. They must be reined in | Simon Jenkins

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[ The Guardian | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Download: Wednesday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2017 Show Daily

The Frankfurt Book Fair, opened this year by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, also kicked off discussions of the role of books in an era of fake news. The post Download: Wednesday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2017 Show Daily appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook test brings context to links that are shared in your newsfeed

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[ Betanews | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook tests a feature that provides info on article publishers

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[ Engadget | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Election Inquiry Is Said to Focus on YouTube and Gmail

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[ Advertising Age | 2017-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hudson: kids non-fiction provides 'trust and authority' in fake news world

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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