Facebook Flags Fake News
Facebook has begun flagging fake news or as Facebook calls it: “disputed” news, reports USA TODAY, which added:
“A warning label is being slapped on articles that clearly have no basis in fact or reality — at least some of them.
“The giant social network first promised to roll out a “disputed” tag in December. Over the weekend, it made its debut in the U.S. Facebook declined to comment.
“Among the disputed offenders that people spotted on Facebook: A fictionalized story “Trump’s Android Device Believed To Be Source of Recent White House Leaks” from a fictional publication “The Seattle Tribune.” The story carried a disputed label with links to fact-checking services that explained why it was not true.
“The website has a disclaimer that it is a “news and entertainment satire web publication.” But the story fooled people anyway.
“The “disputed” tag is part of Facebook’s grand plan to crack down on fake news as the company tries to tamp down the controversy over its role in the spread of misinformation that sharpened political divisions and inflamed discourse during and after the presidential election.
“”They’re gonna run out of flags,” joked one Facebook user.”
