This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/15/technology/facebook-fake-news.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Facebook Mounts Effort to Limit Tide of Fake News Facebook Mounts Effort to Limit Tide of Fake News
(about 2 hours later)
For weeks, Facebook has faced questions about its role in spreading fake news. The intense scrutiny has caused internal divisions at the social network and has pushed Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, to say that he was trying to find ways to combat the problem.For weeks, Facebook has faced questions about its role in spreading fake news. The intense scrutiny has caused internal divisions at the social network and has pushed Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, to say that he was trying to find ways to combat the problem.
Now, in the company’s most concerted effort to combat fake news, Facebook said on Thursday it had begun introducing a series of experiments to keep misinformation and false articles from being disseminated across its site. Now, in the company’s most concerted effort to combat fake news, Facebook said on Thursday that it had begun introducing a series of experiments to keep misinformation and false articles from being disseminated across its site.
The maneuvers the company is trying include one that makes it easier for its 1.8 billion members to report fake news. Facebook is also creating partnerships with outside fact-checking organizations to help it more clearly indicate when articles are false, as well as changing some ad practices to choke off the economics of fake news purveyors.The maneuvers the company is trying include one that makes it easier for its 1.8 billion members to report fake news. Facebook is also creating partnerships with outside fact-checking organizations to help it more clearly indicate when articles are false, as well as changing some ad practices to choke off the economics of fake news purveyors.
Facebook is in a tricky position with these tests. The company has long regarded itself as a neutral place where people can freely post, read and view content, and it has said it does not want to be an arbiter of truth. But as the social network’s reach and influence has grown, it has had to confront questions about its moral obligations and ethical standards in what it presents.Facebook is in a tricky position with these tests. The company has long regarded itself as a neutral place where people can freely post, read and view content, and it has said it does not want to be an arbiter of truth. But as the social network’s reach and influence has grown, it has had to confront questions about its moral obligations and ethical standards in what it presents.
Its experiments on curtailing fake news show that Facebook recognizes it has a deepening responsibility for what is on its site. But Facebook also has to tread cautiously in making changes, as the company is wary of opening itself up to claims of censorship.Its experiments on curtailing fake news show that Facebook recognizes it has a deepening responsibility for what is on its site. But Facebook also has to tread cautiously in making changes, as the company is wary of opening itself up to claims of censorship.
“We really value giving people a voice, but we also believe we need to take responsibility for the spread of fake news on our platform,” said Adam Mosseri, a Facebook vice president who is in charge of its News Feed, the company’s method of distributing information to its global audience.“We really value giving people a voice, but we also believe we need to take responsibility for the spread of fake news on our platform,” said Adam Mosseri, a Facebook vice president who is in charge of its News Feed, the company’s method of distributing information to its global audience.
He said the changes — which, if successful, may be available to a wide audience — are the results of many months of internal discussion about how to handle false news articles shared on the network.He said the changes — which, if successful, may be available to a wide audience — are the results of many months of internal discussion about how to handle false news articles shared on the network.
How much Facebook’s moves will make a dent in fake news is unclear. The issue is not confined to the social network, with a vast ecosystem of false news creators who thrive on online advertising and who can use other social media and search engines to propagate their work. Google, Twitter and message boards like 4chan and Reddit have all been criticized for being part of that chain.How much Facebook’s moves will make a dent in fake news is unclear. The issue is not confined to the social network, with a vast ecosystem of false news creators who thrive on online advertising and who can use other social media and search engines to propagate their work. Google, Twitter and message boards like 4chan and Reddit have all been criticized for being part of that chain.
Still, Facebook has taken the most heat on fake news. The company has been under that spotlight since Nov. 8, when Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th president. Mr. Trump’s unexpected win almost immediately spurred people to focus on whether Facebook influenced the electorate, especially with the rise of hyperpartisan sites on the network and numerous examples of misinformation, like a false article about Pope Francis endorsing Mr. Trump for president that had been shared nearly one million times across the site. Still, Facebook has taken the most heat on fake news. The company has been under that spotlight since Nov. 8, when Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th president. Mr. Trump’s unexpected win almost immediately spurred people to focus on whether Facebook had influenced the electorate, especially with the rise of hyperpartisan sites on the network and numerous examples of misinformation, like a false article about Pope Francis endorsing Mr. Trump for president that was shared nearly one million times across the site.
Mr. Zuckerberg has said that he did not believe Facebook influenced the election result, calling it “a pretty crazy idea.” Mr. Zuckerberg has said that he did not believe that Facebook had influenced the election result, calling it “a pretty crazy idea.”
In an interview, Mr. Mosseri said Facebook did not believe its News Feed directly caused people to vote for a particular candidate, given that “the magnitude of fake news across Facebook is one fraction of a percent of the content across the network.” In an interview, Mr. Mosseri said Facebook did not think its News Feed had directly caused people to vote for a particular candidate, given that “the magnitude of fake news across Facebook is one fraction of a percent of the content across the network.”
Facebook has made changes before to the way its News Feed works. In August, the company announced changes to marginalize what it considered “clickbait,” the sensational headlines that rarely live up to their promise. This year, Facebook also prioritized content shared by friends and family, a move that shook some publishers that rely on the social network for much of their traffic. The company is also constantly fine-tuning its algorithms to serve what its users most want to see, an effort to keep its audience returning regularly. Facebook has made changes before to the way its News Feed works. In August, the company announced changes to marginalize what it considered “clickbait,” the sensational headlines that rarely live up to their promise. This year, Facebook also gave priority to content shared by friends and family, a move that shook some publishers that rely on the social network for much of their traffic. The company is also constantly fine-tuning its algorithms to serve what its users most want to see, an effort to keep its audience returning regularly.
This time, Facebook is making it easier to flag content that may be fake. Users can currently report a post they dislike in their feed, but when Facebook asks for a reason, the site presents them with a list of limited or vague options, including the cryptic “I don’t think it should be on Facebook.” In Facebook’s new experiment, users will have a choice to flag the post as fake news and have the option to message the friend who originally shared the piece to let them know the article is false.This time, Facebook is making it easier to flag content that may be fake. Users can currently report a post they dislike in their feed, but when Facebook asks for a reason, the site presents them with a list of limited or vague options, including the cryptic “I don’t think it should be on Facebook.” In Facebook’s new experiment, users will have a choice to flag the post as fake news and have the option to message the friend who originally shared the piece to let them know the article is false.
If an article receives enough flags as fake, it can be directed to a coalition of groups that would perform fact-checking, including Snopes, PolitiFact and ABC News, among others. Those groups will check the article and can mark it as a “disputed” piece, a designation that will be seen on Facebook. If an article receives enough flags as fake, it can be directed to a coalition of groups that would perform fact-checking, including Snopes, PolitiFact and ABC News. Those groups will check the article and can mark it as a “disputed” piece, a designation that will be seen on Facebook.
Disputed articles will ultimately appear lower in the News Feed. If users still decide to share disputed articles, they will receive pop-ups reminding them that the accuracy of the piece is in question.Disputed articles will ultimately appear lower in the News Feed. If users still decide to share disputed articles, they will receive pop-ups reminding them that the accuracy of the piece is in question.
Facebook said it was casting a wide net to add more partners to its fact-checking coalition and may move outside of the United States with the initiative if early experiments go well. The company is also part of the First Draft Coalition, an effort with other technology and media companies including Twitter, Google, The New York Times and CNN, to combat the spread of fake news online.Facebook said it was casting a wide net to add more partners to its fact-checking coalition and may move outside of the United States with the initiative if early experiments go well. The company is also part of the First Draft Coalition, an effort with other technology and media companies including Twitter, Google, The New York Times and CNN, to combat the spread of fake news online.
In another change to how News Feed works, articles that many users read but do not share will be ranked lower on people’s feeds. Mr. Mosseri said a low ratio of sharing an article after it has been read could be perceived as a negative signal, one that might reflect that the article was misleading or of poor quality.In another change to how News Feed works, articles that many users read but do not share will be ranked lower on people’s feeds. Mr. Mosseri said a low ratio of sharing an article after it has been read could be perceived as a negative signal, one that might reflect that the article was misleading or of poor quality.
“Facebook was inevitably going to have to curate the platform much more carefully, and this seems like a reasonably transparent method of intervention,” said Emily Bell, director at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.“Facebook was inevitably going to have to curate the platform much more carefully, and this seems like a reasonably transparent method of intervention,” said Emily Bell, director at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.
“But the fake cat is already out of the imaginary bag,” Ms. Bell added. “If they didn’t try and do something about it, next time around it could have far worse consequences.”“But the fake cat is already out of the imaginary bag,” Ms. Bell added. “If they didn’t try and do something about it, next time around it could have far worse consequences.”
Facebook also plans to impede the economics of spreading fake articles across the network. Fake news purveyors generally make money when people click on the false articles and are directed to third-party websites, the majority of which are filled with dozens of low-cost ads.Facebook also plans to impede the economics of spreading fake articles across the network. Fake news purveyors generally make money when people click on the false articles and are directed to third-party websites, the majority of which are filled with dozens of low-cost ads.
Facebook will scan those third-party links and check for things like whether the page is 85 percent advertising content — a dead giveaway for spam sites — or to see whether a link masquerades as a different site, like a fake version of The New York Times.Facebook will scan those third-party links and check for things like whether the page is 85 percent advertising content — a dead giveaway for spam sites — or to see whether a link masquerades as a different site, like a fake version of The New York Times.
Articles disputed by the fact-checking coalition will not be eligible to be inserted into Facebook ads, a tactic viral spammers have used to spread fake news quickly and gain more clicks to their websites.Articles disputed by the fact-checking coalition will not be eligible to be inserted into Facebook ads, a tactic viral spammers have used to spread fake news quickly and gain more clicks to their websites.
Facebook said in these early experiments it would deal with only fake news content and did not plan to flag opinion posts or other content that cannot be easily classified. Satirical sites like The Onion, which often jabs at political subjects through tongue-in-cheek humor, will not be affected by the changes. Facebook said that in these early experiments it would deal with only fake news content and did not plan to flag opinion posts or other content that could not be easily classified. Satirical sites like The Onion, which often jabs at political subjects through tongue-in-cheek humor, will not be affected by the changes.
Facebook must take something else into consideration: its bottom line. Any action taken to reduce viral content, even if it is fake news, could hurt the company’s top priority of keeping its users engaged on the platform. People spend an average of more than 50 minutes of their day on Facebook, and the company wants that number to grow. Facebook must take something else into consideration: its bottom line. Any action taken to reduce popular content, even if it is fake news, could hurt the company’s top priority of keeping its users engaged on the platform. People spend an average of more than 50 minutes of their day on Facebook, and the company wants that number to grow.
Mr. Mosseri said he did not believe the tests would hurt Facebook. He emphasized that fake news continued to be a small amount of the content on its network and that fighting it would not be at odds with Facebook’s business. Mr. Mosseri said he did not believe that the tests would hurt Facebook. He emphasized that fake news continued to be a small amount of the content on its network and that fighting it would not be at odds with Facebook’s business.
“But even if it was,” Mr. Mosseri said, “it’s our responsibility to take it seriously.”“But even if it was,” Mr. Mosseri said, “it’s our responsibility to take it seriously.”