Meta to get rid of factcheckers and recommend more political content

[CeceliaImrie]

Just in the news,

"Meta will get rid of factcheckers, “dramatically reduce the amount of censorship” and recommend more political content on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Threads, founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced."

Are social media platforms going to end up the domain of sorry to be harsh but, idiots arguing and celebrities showing off?

The legitimacy of fact-checking and censorship of damaging content was about the only thing keeping Facebook, Twitter and the others from descending into a complete cesspit of argument, lies, bullying and porno spammmars.

Aibu to think this is the end of the idea and content it was borne out of?

Will it continue as a trashy corner of the internet or will it die off?

Well considering the 'fact checkers' are nothing more than censorship and facts such as 'the covid jab is 100 safe and effectivr' were spouted for people to believe I think it's a good thing. Let people be grown up and determine facts for themselves.

People "determining facts for themselves" does so often looks like people embracing their own biases. YANBU OP but this is the new age of ignorance, not only are all our feelings valid, we now get to choose our own reality.

I’ve stopped using Facebook because it keeps recommending me really polarizing, hyperbolic, clickbait-y posts and groups (e.g. Israel/Palestine, trans rights, vaccine/covid stuff, gun rights, abortion etc).
I get things for both sides but a lot of it is really inflammatory (and often factually inaccurate). It’s clearly trying to see what I’ll click on and then send me more similar stuff until my feed becomes a total echo chamber that becomes increasingly extreme or full of things designed for me to hate click/comment on.
I have no problem with debate, free-speech or people expressing opinions I disagree with. But none of the things I’m sent have any real argument or nuance, it’s all just nasty and inflammatory clickbait. (On both sides. Even with topics I agree with, I hate the posts themselves and recognize that they’re presenting a very extreme point of view designed to elicit an emotional response)

#doyourownresearch

@Crumpetandcake this is precisely what I'm thinking. Of course I'm for free speech and differences of opinion, the problem arises when people are arguing over a load of propagandist nonsense from the moneyed elite who seem to own everything and dominate the news.

How do you determine facts?

How do you do your own research to come to an objective view on something?

So many biases to overcome - and so much false information out there.

Much easier to read a headline that confirms your view and repost it to people who already share that view

This is basically another green light for more extremist views, propaganda and political agendas. Sad day for us all.

I think MZ has looked longingly at the publicity that Elon Musk is currently getting and has decided to take FB in the same direction as X Twitter. Both are arseholes.

Correct!

Yes this!

Given how much social media is full of anti-vaccers, conspiracy theorists, racists, misogynists and idiots what can possibly go wrong?

The problem with #doyourownresearch is that it often boils down to skimming lots of guff information on Reddit and YouTube. It only works if you really know how to research and set aside your own biases.

I find it suspicious that Marc Zuckerberg spent time at Mar a Lago over Christmas and has now done this. It has a whiff of Musk.

However, I'm very prepared to admit that this might be coincidental.

Interesting shift ...

The whole speech is well worth a detailed listen

I think he is just going to blow with the wind in whatever direction keeps him out of a congress committee hot seat. If the seat of power shifts again in 2028 he will shift with it.

His efforts to cosplay Elon and be 'maga' strike me as very insincere and a bit cringe. He probably is an arsehole for a variety of reasons but he's never struck me as overly attention seeking in Musk-esqe fashion.

Zuckerberg is worried that FB is Jurassic social media. All the kiddies are on other media having verbal punch ups. Tricky move though. What about the oldies on FB who want cats and nice scenery but without the lies and hatred? Mind you if I disable FB ‐ again - I'll have no excuses to avoid Duolingo.

Trump has been a vocal critic of Meta and its approach to content moderation, calling Facebook "an enemy of the people" in March 2024. Now he is the president, no business leader will risk being out of favour with a man who has shown very little restraint when annoyed by a perceived enemy.

So it rather makes sense that following his dinner with Trump at Mar-a-logo, MZ donated $1million to an Inauguration fund for Trump.

It’s akin to the Sopranos, MZ has effectively payed his respect to the Don and bestowed upon him a generous gift.

We live in interesting times.

we do indeed,

Well I'm glad, never a fan of political censorship.

The "fact checkers" were nothing more than propaganda. I'm also happy that gender critical views will no longer be censored.

Are social media platforms going to end up the domain of sorry to be harsh but, idiots arguing and celebrities showing off?

This already happened some time ago.

When did censorship become a bad thing ? Of course you should be censored for using vile abelist language, racist tropes, and peddling porn.

“free speech warriors” are always keen on “free speech” until you say something they don’t like.

TBH Facebook has always been about money (because Zuckerberg doesn’t have enough), I once reported a post, that was a photo of someone who had been stabbed to death .. apparently it didn’t violate community standards)

Having listened to an ninterview with Clegg and then saw he was leaving meta, I did wonder what was coming...

You would hope it would die out but even if it does, it will take time and a mini "socials" revolution to change and therefore...£££ and all the cash is in the hands of Musk, MZ etc etc

V scary.... books are fact checked... news papers like the mail are drivel... other papers and outlets "fake news" / "biased" if they don't align with people's views. Bbc fucked it's reputation.

What's left... nonsense on the Web 😫

In fairness to FB Gender Critical views have have been allowed for the last few years. I have loads of GC fb friends and am on several GC pages. Including a JKR supporting Harry Potter page !