Facebook gets rid of news tab in UK, France, Germany
06 Sep 2023 03:58pm
Image for illustrative purposes only. – FILE PIX
This move is part of Facebook's ongoing strategy to allocate its resources to areas that align more closely with user interests, particularly short-form video content.
The decision stems from Facebook's acknowledgment that its users primarily visit the platform for social connections and exploring their passions, rather than for news and political content.
According to Facebook's data, news content makes up less than 3 per cent of what users see in their Facebook feeds globally.
Other Meta products and services in these countries will remain unaffected by the change. Users can still access news articles through shared links on the platform.
European news publishers will retain access to their Facebook accounts and Pages, allowing them to post links to their stories and direct users to their websites. They can also utilize products like Reels and the advertising system to reach a wider audience while keeping 100 per cent of the revenue generated from outbound links on Facebook.
While existing agreements with publishers in the UK, France, and Germany will be honoured until they expire, Facebook said it has no plans to enter new commercial deals for news content on Facebook News in these countries.
Furthermore, the company does not foresee launching new products specifically tailored for news publishers in the future.
Despite these changes, Facebook said it remains committed to connecting users with reliable information on its platforms. The company collaborates with independent third-party fact-checkers, certified through the non-partisan International Fact-Checking Network, to review and rate viral misinformation on its apps. - BERNAMA
