Social Media: The Viral Lie
Context
A study confirms viral fake election news consistently outperformed real news on your platform, amplified by your engagement-driven algorithms. Though your platform does not create content, your design choices amplify misinformation.
Dilemma
A) Overhaul ranking systems to prioritize credible sources, invest heavily in fact-checking partnerships, and accept lower engagement and political actors accusing you of bias.
B) Preserve algorithmic engagement priorities and defend your role as a neutral platform, protecting user growth and ad revenue.
Summary
A 15-month study revealed that viral fake election news consistently outperformed real news on Facebook during the 2016 US election. This alarming trend indicated that the platform's engagement-driven algorithms were amplifying misinformation, directly impacting public discourse and democratic processes. The findings severely threatened Facebook's credibility, public trust, and invited intense regulatory scrutiny, highlighting a fundamental flaw in how content was prioritized and distributed. This situation underscored the company's critical role and responsibility in shaping public opinion and the global information ecosystem.
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| Last modified: | 06 June 2025 2.33 p.m. |