Meta’s decision to abandon independent fact-checking on Facebook should concern journalists. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a transition to a Community Notes model, under which Facebook users will monitor the accuracy of posts and add corrective comments when necessary.
This shift may not directly affect individual journalists or news organizations. However, it raises concerns about diminishing the influence of quality journalism. Could this change lead to a flood of misinformation and disinformation? Quality journalism is increasingly surrounded—and often drowned out—by a cacophony of false narratives, conspiracy theories, and outright lies. Clanging and banging.
Facebook boasts over 3 billion active monthly users, with more than 2 billion logging in daily. In the U.S., users spend over half an hour on the platform daily. Without fact-checkers, Facebook becomes fertile ground for those intent on spreading false information.
Some social media experts suggest that dropping fact-checking might be a strategy to gain favor with President-elect Trump. Conservatives have long claimed that Facebook’s algorithms unfairly disadvantage their voices. However, other factors are at play. Fact-checking is expensive, and many people distrust fact-checkers. Research indicates that when individuals with firmly held beliefs are confronted with accurate information, they often become even more entrenched in their views. People tend to believe what aligns with their existing perspectives.
The larger question is why news organizations relied on Facebook in the first place. Media marketers saw the platform as a tool to build brand awareness and drive traffic to news sites. Facebook’s effectiveness in driving news site traffic is minimal.
It’s worth noting that Facebook is not a news organization, though it briefly attempted to be one. A few years ago, Facebook sought partnerships with prominent national and local news outlets. After months of discussions, news organizations balked. The partnership benefited Facebook far more than the newsrooms, which struggled to monetize their content or drive significant sampling of their sites.
Since then, Facebook claims to be moving away from news because users are tired of the politics and bickering on the platform. News fatigue and avoidance are real issues. Will relying on the Facebook community to police content improve the user experience or the accuracy of information? Don’t count on it.
So, is eliminating fact-checkers on Facebook a good or bad move? For newsrooms, it’s a bad move. As a result, newsrooms should focus on what they can control—producing quality journalism for their platforms. Stay away from the clanging and banging.
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