Facebook Is Killing the News Tab in Several Countries
Meta is removing Facebook's dedicated news tab in some European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, but claims that news will still be available on the platform through other means.
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Posted 9/5/2023, 6:20:00 PM
gizmodo.com
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The main topic is Meta's decision to block Canadian access to news links and stories on Facebook and Instagram in response to a new law that would require them to pay publishers for their content. Key points include the passing of the Online News Act in Canada, Meta's decision to end news availability in Canada, Google's plans to follow suit, the decline of the news industry and the controversy surrounding the new laws. The article also mentions Meta's previous financial contributions to the news industry and the potential impact of these laws on social media platforms in the future.
Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook) is planning to roll out a web version of its micro-messaging service, Threads, which caused investors to trade Meta's stock up by over 2%.
Meta is introducing non-personalized content feeds on Facebook and Instagram for users in the European Union in order to comply with the Digital Services Act, allowing users to switch off AI-driven "personalization" features that track and profile individuals. The move comes ahead of the August 25 deadline and follows a similar announcement by TikTok.
The Canadian government has released draft regulations that would require Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) and Alphabet Inc. (Google) to pay news outlets a minimum of 4% of their annual revenue in Canada, but Meta has stated that it will continue to block users in Canada from seeing news stories on Facebook.
Facebook has announced that it will deprecate Facebook News in the UK, France, and Germany in an effort to focus on user preferences and prioritize short-form videos, but this change will not impact access to news articles and publishers' accounts.
Facebook's parent company Meta is pulling the plug on Facebook News in the U.K., Germany, and France, as part of its efforts to align investments with its most valued products and services.
Facebook: The Unreliable News Distributor
Facebook, or rather its parent company Meta, has been making waves in the news industry recently. First, it got into a tussle with the Australian government over news payments. Then it quietly removed its revenue-sharing News tab in the US. And now, it has imposed a complete news link ban in Canada. But the drama doesn't end there. Meta is now killing off the News tab in France, Germany, and the UK, and ending funding for a local news project.
This change in policy comes ahead of impending legislation in the European Union and the UK that may require Facebook to pay for the news it shares. Meta's unwillingness to pay for news content is at the core of all these changes. While news makes up just a small percentage of content viewed on Facebook, it plays a crucial role in keeping users engaged on the platform. However, news media have been hit hard by the shift to online platforms, losing out to the advertising dominance of Google and Facebook.
Over the years, Meta has tried various strategies to financially support news organizations, but nothing has been successful. Now, it seems that Meta is giving up on paying for news altogether. This decision has faced criticism, especially from smaller publishers who rely on Facebook for referral traffic and engagement. The company's flip-flopping approach to news has highlighted the fragility of the relationship between traditional media and tech giants like Facebook.
But what does this mean for users? Well, the News tab, which most users may not even be aware of, will be removed from the Facebook app in Europe. This may not make a significant difference for users, but it does mean the end of payments to news media. Instead, Facebook will shift its focus back to video content.
In conclusion, Meta's decision to abandon news comes at a time when legislators are demanding that Facebook pays for news. The company's resistance to legislation, as seen in Australia and Canada, raises questions about its commitment to supporting news organizations. As news media look for alternative ways to reach their audiences, the future of journalism and its relationship with social media platforms remains uncertain.