In an attempt to expand fact-checking across pages, groups, Instagram accounts, etc Facebook announced that they would be pushing down posts by the users who repeatedly share misinformation.
Facebook To Reduce Post Reach If Found Fake or Misinformed
In a new statement released by Facebook on Wednesday, they said that they would be moving forward with the plan to push down posts from people who shared misinformation. It includes misinformation on topics like Covid 19 and vaccines, elections, climate change and many more.
Facebook informed that they would be reducing the posts from people who repeatedly share content that has been rated against by their fact-checking partners. Currently, they notify the person who made the post if their fact checker has rated it against.
The social media giant has redesigned the notifications to make it easier for their users to understand why something has been rated. Now, the notification includes sources of the correct information and an option to share the same.
The company said that they have taken stronger actions against pages, groups, Instagram accounts and other domains that have shared misinformation in the past. Now they are expanding the same for the individual accounts as well.
The company launched its fact-checking programme in late 2016.
Facebook Accepts that Covid 19 was Originated in a Lab
As per the latest reports, Facebook has lifted its prohibition on information claiming that the coronavirus was (reportedly) originated in a laboratory. The Facebook spokesperson said that with the ongoing investigation into the origin of Covid 19 and their continuing work with the public health experts, they will no longer remove content that claims that Covid 19 is man-made.
This comes months after Facebook was being targeted for judging the misleading information about the pandemic. Reports suggest that back in December last year, Facebook assured that they will be removing posts that carry false information about the Covid 19 vaccines. It also included posts related to the “safety, efficacy, ingredients, or adverse effects” of the information.
