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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Facebook says it wants to do right by news organizations

Back in January, Facebook announced that it would henceforth de-emphasize posts from brands and publishers in users’ news feeds in favor of ones from friends and family. Media organizations—which have long been dependent on Facebook for traffic, albeit more than a trifle embarassed by that... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook announced #news organizations #news feeds #news distribution #people living


Facebook says its free news feed is helping journalism

Company tells Australian regulator that news makes up just 5% of content shared, and downplays its collection and use of people’s data• Sign up to receive the top stories in Australia every day at noon Facebook has told the Australian competition regulator that news makes up just 5% of the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content shared #top stories #australian competition #digital platforms #tv networks


Martin Lewis sues Facebook over fake adverts with his name

MoneySavingExpert founder says firm failed to stop false adverts luring victims into scamsMartin Lewis, the consumer advice and money-saving expert, is suing Facebook for defamation after it published dozens of fake adverts featuring his face and name. He is seeking exemplary damages in the high... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facing a trust crisis, Facebook offers up even more context about news feed publishers

Facebook has been making attempts to restore people’s trust in what they come across in their news feeds. In the latest example, the company is rolling out new features that aim to give users more information about the publishers and stories they read. Originally conducted as a test last year,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook offers #news feeds #give users


Facebook rolls out news verification tools to everyone in the US

Facebook has been fighting fake news for a while now, ranking "trusted" sources and demoting "engagement bait" stories. Last October, the company began testing a feature that provided information on article publishers to help people decide which sour... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook rolls #article publishers


Facebook promises to delete unpublished videos

Now that Facebook has been outed as keeping videos you've recorded but never published, the social media has promised to actually delete them. Last week, the sister of a New York Magazine writer found old videos that should have been cleaned off the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook promises


Google Announces Initiative to Help Publishers and Combat Fake News

At a press event in New York City, Google announced today that it's rolling out the Google News Initiative, in which it's investing $300 million over the next three years. The goal is to help publishers make money and to combat "fake news," which consists of several products designed to help... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2018-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fake news #media businesses


The long-suffering news business keeps getting big promises from Big Tech

With Google under pressure to clamp down on YouTube conspiracies and low-quality clickbait, the search giant is launching a major new effort aimed at strengthening its relationship with news publishers–and perhaps keeping them from going under. At an event in New York today, the company... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #search giant #news publishers #company announced #digital age


Fake news is Twitter's flu: Chips with Everything podcast

This month, MIT scientists published a paper that found lies spread six times faster than real news on Twitter. This week, Jordan Erica Webber tries to understand why this happensSubscribe and review: Acast, Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud. Join the discussion on Facebook,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fake news #times faster #real news #podcasts@theguardian #presidential election


‘Everyone was a bit suspicious’: Scarred news publishers are wary of Facebook’s latest Watch gambit

Stung by Facebook’s pushes for Instant Articles, live video and Watch, news publishers are unwilling to bend over backward for the company's latest pitch. The post ‘Everyone was a bit suspicious’: Scarred news publishers are wary of Facebook’s latest Watch gambit appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #live video #news publishers


NBC News Chairman Lack Sees No Value for Publishers in Facebook

NBC News' Chairman Andrew Lack isn't optimistic on Facebook."Facebook doesn't have value for publishers really," Lack told reporters during a press briefing on NBC News' digital initiatives on Wednesday. "I call them Fakebook.""What's frustrating about Facebook is you can't have a relationship... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook doesn #nbc news #press briefing #digital initiatives #content creation


Facebook's daily news video section may arrive this summer

Facebook has only hinted at its upcoming news video section in Watch, but some more tangible details are starting to trickle out. Axios sources have claimed a daily news service should launch in the summer, with about 10 publishers (both conventiona... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After Facebook news-feed changes, publishers look hopefully to Pinterest

Pinterest represented nearly 8 percent of publishers’ social traffic in the second half of 2017, nearly doubling year over year, according to Shareaholic. The post After Facebook news-feed changes, publishers look hopefully to Pinterest appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pinterest appeared #facebook news-feed #social traffic


For News Publishers, Facebook Is a Less Reliable Friend

As Facebook’s share of traffic to news sites has been falling sharply since early last year—and will only decline more—Google AMP has been on the rise. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news publishers #news sites


Digiday Research: European publishers grapple with Facebook’s news feed changes

Digiday surveyed European publishers about their strategies for countering changes to Facebook's news feed algorithm. The post Digiday Research: European publishers grapple with Facebook’s news feed changes appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Collateral damage from Facebook’s news-feed changes begins to pile up

Facebook's latest news-feed change could affect the cottage industry that has sprung up to help feed viral publishers. The post Collateral damage from Facebook’s news-feed changes begins to pile up appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #collateral damage #cottage industry


50+ More Publishers Will Soon Begin Testing Facebook’s Breaking News Tag

Facebook is expanding its test of a breaking news tag to more than 50 publishers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Australia, and product manager Joey Rhyu shared some data from the social network's initial test run in a blog post. According to Rhyu, from Dec. 8 through Jan. 14, posts... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2018-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latin america


Facebook expands breaking news label to more publishers

Facebook began testing a "breaking news" label for developing stories back in November, and now the social network is expanding the option to more publishers. Starting this week, the company says 50 more outlets in North America, Latin America, Europ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #breaking news #latin america


Facebook suddenly cares about news again

Facebook’s ever-changing opinion on which content it will boost in its News Feed is, well, changing yet again. After the company announced only a few months ago that it would de-emphasize content from publishers and brands, meaning news organizations would likely see their Facebook traffic... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #breaking news #company announced #months ago


LittleThings shuts down, a casualty of Facebook news feed change

LittleThings was more heavily dependent on Facebook than most publishers, making it especially vulnerable to the platform's recent news feed change. The post LittleThings shuts down, a casualty of Facebook news feed change appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #heavily dependent