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 ]

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My dad predicted Trump in 1985 – it's not Orwell, he warned, it's Brave New World

The ascent of Donald Trump has proved Neil Postman’s argument in Amusing Ourselves to Death was right. Here’s what we can do about itOver the last year, as the presidential campaign grew increasingly bizarre and Donald Trump took us places we had never been before, I saw a spike in media... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The view on fake news from Sweden

Sweden, with one of the oldest free presses in the world, has seen a worrying rise in hate speech and fake news, according to Ehsan Fadakar, social media columnist at tabloid Aftonbladet. But publishers there have a more direct connection with their readers than in other countries, making... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK media chiefs called in by minister for talks on fake news

Matt Hancock’s move follows week in which Donald Trump attacked CNN as ‘fake news’ for reporting on dossier on his Russia linksMinisters have summoned media bosses for talks on “accuracy” in journalism amid growing concern over the rise of fake news. Matt Hancock, the minister of state for... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Facebook’s fake news measures won’t stamp out imposter publishers

Facebook's announcement that it was taking steps to crack down on hoaxes and fake news on the platform drew attention to a specific type of fake news ads -- those that masquerade as legitimate news sites. Publishers have long been the victim of such schemes, but they have few options to squash... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook patent hints at an automated solution for fake news

Facebook may have said that it's stepping up its fight against fake news in the past few weeks, but there are signs that it might have had a way to tackle this problem sooner. A recently published USPTO filing from 2015 reveals that Facebook has app... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Latest in the Facebook “Friend or Foe” Debate

As the "fake news" controversy unfolds, regional publishers need to rise above the noise. The post The Latest in the Facebook “Friend or Foe” Debate appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google, Facebook will not place ads on sites distributing fake news

Google plans to update its AdSense program policies to prevent placement of its ads on sites distributing fake news.Facebook also said Monday it had updated the policy for its Audience Network, which places ads on websites and mobile apps, to explicitly clarify that it applies to fake news.“In... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How fake news goes viral, and why it will happen less

It's never been easier to spread fake news online. Publishers, driven by publishing economics to publish faster, are playing fast and loose with the facts, readers are spreading information they though they could trust and Facebook, up until very recently, has taken a backseat to fixing things.... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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