Meta is set to remove the news tab feature on its Facebook social media platform in the United States (US) and Australia as it focuses on other aspects of user engagement.
The decision to pull the curtains on the news tab follows a similar move made last year in the UK, Germany, and France, where Facebook News was terminated to prioritize resources toward more popular features.
A photo taken on November 17, 2023 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a smartphone screen in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany.
Meta to End News Tab Feature in Australia, US
According to Meta's recent statement, the usage of Facebook News in Australia and the US has seen a significant decline, with an 80% drop observed over the past year.
This decline prompted Meta to make a strategic shift to invest resources in areas that users find most valuable, particularly emphasizing short-form video content.
Hence, Meta plans to decommission Facebook News in April. This decision underscores the company's commitment to aligning its investments to user preferences as it acknowledged that most users visit Facebook to connect with others and explore diverse interests rather than read news content.
"As a company, we have to focus our time and resources on things people tell us they want to see more of on the platform, including short form video," Meta said in a statement released on Thursday.
"We know that people don't come to Facebook for news and political content - they come to connect with people and discover new opportunities, passions and interests. As we previously shared in 2023, news makes up less than 3% of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed, and is a small part of the Facebook experience for the vast majority of people," it added.
While removing the news tab will impact how news articles are presented on Facebook, users will still have access to news links shared by publishers on the platform.
News organizations will retain their Facebook accounts and pages, enabling them to share links to their articles and drive traffic to their websites. Publishers can also use other Facebook features like Reels and advertising tools to engage with audiences and promote their content independently.
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Meta's Campaign Against Misinformation
Despite the discontinuation of Facebook News, Meta reaffirms its dedication to combating misinformation and providing users with access to reliable information.
The company emphasized its collaboration with third-party fact-checkers accredited by organizations like the International Fact-Checking Network to address viral misinformation across its platforms.
With a global network of over 90 independent fact-checking organizations, Meta claimed it is committed to supporting fact-checking efforts and investing in initiatives to mitigate the spread of misinformation.
Moreover, Meta clarified that the decision to end Facebook News in specific countries will not affect existing agreements with publishers or impact the terms of these agreements.
However, the company noted that it will refrain from entering into new commercial deals for traditional news content in these regions and will not introduce new products tailored specifically for news publishers in the future.
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