As per recent trends, Facebook has actively been taking steps to combat the spread of misinformation on the platform. Recently, Facebook took another leap towards combatting false information, with the implementation of new informational alerts.
The platform’s new system works so that there will be user penalties based on information or content that has been flagged as “false” by Facebook’s fact-checking teams. Part of this update includes a pop-up on accounts that have been spreading false information that lets users know of the accounts questionable activities.
Facebook shared, “We want to give people more information before they like a Page that has repeatedly shared content that fact-checkers have rated, so you’ll see a pop up if you go to like one of these Pages. You can also click to learn more, including that fact-checkers said some posts shared by this Page include false information and a link to more information about our fact-checking program. This will help people make an informed decision about whether they want to follow the Page.”
The new steps are definitely a strong way of making users aware of their possible exposure to false information on a day-to-day basis online.
Facebook continued, “Starting today, we will reduce the distribution of all posts in News Feed from an individual’s Facebook account if they repeatedly share content that has been rated by one of our fact-checking partners. We already reduce a single post’s reach in News Feed if it has been debunked.”
Check out our last piece on Facebook taking on false information regarding COVID-19 and let us know your thoughts below!