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 ]
News tagged with: #fake news #opposite effect #fact check

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Elections in India and the EU Mean a Flood of Homegrown Fake News

“Stupefying speed.” Bloomberg checked in with Vishvas News, Facebook’s largest Indian-language fact-checking contractor, to see how things went during India’s general elections. (Results Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-05-23 18:00:08 UTC ]
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Men Appear Twice as Often as Women in News Photos on Facebook

A new study of the images accompanying news stories posted publicly on Facebook by prominent American news media outlets finds Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-05-23 17:30:15 UTC ]
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Facebook removes 3 billion fake accounts in 6 months

Facebook removed more than three billion fake accounts from October to March, twice as many as the previous six months, the social networking company said Thursday. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-23 16:32:45 UTC ]
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Facebook catches 3 billion fake accounts, but the ones it misses are the real problem

The company, which reports 2.39 billion monthly active users, says it zapped 3 BILLION fake accounts in two quarters alone, and that it caught only “most of them.” Facebook held a press call today to report to the world that it has removed 3 billion fake accounts during the last quarter of 2018... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-05-23 15:50:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #real problem


Facebook bans Israeli company, saying it worked to disrupt elections

Facebook Inc. said Thursday it banned an Israeli company that ran an influence campaign aimed at disrupting elections in various countries and has canceled dozens of accounts engaged in spreading disinformation. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, told reporters that... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-05-16 22:40:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #disrupt elections #israeli company #disrupting elections #canceled dozens #accounts engaged #spreading disinformation #nathaniel gleicher #cybersecurity policy #told reporters


Facebook bans Israeli company, saying it worked to disrupt elections

Facebook Inc. said Thursday it banned an Israeli company that ran an influence campaign aimed at disrupting elections in various countries and has canceled dozens of accounts engaged in spreading disinformation. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, told reporters that... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-05-16 22:40:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #disrupt elections #israeli company #disrupting elections #canceled dozens #accounts engaged #spreading disinformation #nathaniel gleicher #cybersecurity policy #told reporters


Singapore debates a law targeting fake news online. Critics warn of a chilling effect

Facebook, Twitter and Google have been under fire all over the world for not doing enough to police their platforms for misinformation. The Singaporean government thinks it has a solution: a law that imposes jail time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential fines for posting or failing... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chilling effect


‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ game show for super fans is in the works

Calling all “SpongeBob SquarePants” super fans: It’s game time. Viacom Digital Studios is creating a game show based on the popular animated series, the company announced Monday. The “SpongeBob Smarty Pants Game Show” will debut later this year on Facebook and the SpongeBob-branded YouTube... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rundown: Brand licensing shows promise for few publishers

BuzzFeed is one of few digital publishers to gain significant traction in brand licensing. The post The Rundown: Brand licensing shows promise for few publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishers #publishers appeared #brand licensing


Facebook might pay for 'high-quality news,' NYMag vs. WaPo, Cameron Dallas explained: Publisher's Brief

If you're wondering about that leading "Afraid Of?" headlineright off the bat New York Mag seems to be suggesting something unflattering about the Post, right?well, here's a sample summary of Carmon's piece via Twitter:(Adam Penenberg is director of New York University's American Journalism... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #march madness #high-quality news #york mag #york university #major platforms #bleacher report


Facebook considering hiring editors to pick quality news for users

Mark Zuckerberg also said he is weighing up paying publishers for use of their journalismFacebook could start employing editors to select “high-quality news” to show to users, in the social network’s latest attempt to lose its reputation as a source for disinformation.Mark Zuckerberg said he is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hiring editors #mark zuckerberg #latest attempt


Facebook may add a dedicated news tab later this year

Mark Zuckerberg has revealed he may add a dedicated tab for "high-quality news" to Facebook, perhaps by the end of the year. The section would reportedly be free for users, though Facebook might pay publishers whose work is featured. Zuckerberg moote... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2019-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple reveals a news service and shows its ambivalence to ads

Apple's string of new subscription services pushes advertising mostly out of the picture -- but for the magazine industry that is a major partner in Apple's expanded news offering, there will be ads nonetheless.Apple on Monday revealed Apple News Plus and the Apple TV Plus video streaming... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apple news #news service #magazine industry #ad experience


Facebook is paying 12 publishers for Watch shows starring video creators

Publishers in the new Facebook-funded program include BuzzFeed, Conde Nast and Viacom. The post Facebook is paying 12 publishers for Watch shows starring video creators appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Watch has a new program to fund publisher shows starring influencers

Facebook wants to connect publishers and other studio production partners with influencers to make new shows for Facebook Watch. The post Facebook Watch has a new program to fund publisher shows starring influencers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WhatsApp 'deleting 2m accounts a month' to stop fake news

App launches paper on ‘stopping abuse’ in India, home to more than 200m of its usersWhatsApp says it is deleting 2m accounts per month as part of an effort to blunt the use of the world’s most popular messaging app to spread fake news and misinformation.The Facebook-owned service published the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NBC News Snapchat show ‘Stay Tuned’ averages 25-30m viewers

Since Snap announced its integration with Comscore, NBC News and other digital publishers have trusted third-party measurement for their Snapchat traffic. The post NBC News Snapchat show ‘Stay Tuned’ averages 25-30m viewers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook is funding more programs catering to local news publishers

Facebook announced over $30 million in grants to organizations trying to help local news publishers. The post Facebook is funding more programs catering to local news publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook exempts news publishers from its archive on political ads

Facebook says it will stop including some publishers' advertising in its political ad archive following months of criticism from news organizations.Next year the social media giant will no longer require publishers who want to buy ads boosting exposure to their articles on politics to go through... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Do you work for Facebook? What is the mood like?

We would like to hear from Facebook workers following allegations published last week in the New York TimesMark Zuckerberg has defended his leadership of Facebook, claiming ignorance of the company’s relationship with a PR firm that linked its critics with George Soros. Related: Facebook... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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