Facebook's Algorithms Have Been Trending Fake News
 |
| LaunchableMag.com |
That skepticism was compounded by the fact that, only 3 days after Facebook started doing this, said algorithms highlighted a story about Fox News presenter having been branded a 'traitor' and unceremoniously fired for supporting Hillary Clinton. It was a completely bogus, mean spirited piece of writing which sat at the top of the trending list like an ugly totem for hours before Facebook finally noticed and got rid of it.
At the time, they assured everyone that it was a one off, and wouldn't happen again, but since then The Washington Post's 'The Intersect' has been keeping a very close eye on them. They released the first report on the 4th, and largely showed that things were running relatively smoothly, apart from the tweaks they had to make to address the accusations of left-wing bias.
The second report came out on the 12th, and it revealed that between August 31st and September 22nd, 7 sketchy stories trended. 5 of these were completely bogus and a further 2 were, at best, iffy. This is just based on one account's findings, though, and as trending news is personalised, there's no telling how many other fake stories topped the chart.
Imagine, for example, if you followed a disproportionate amount, or even a noticeable amount of conspiracy theory pages on Facebook, what kind of news would you see then? What about satirical sites like News Thump and Wunderground? Well, one of the stories that The Intersect picked up was from Sports Pickle, which any seasoned sports fan will tell you is most definitely a parody site.
To a human, that's blatantly obvious, but an algorithm has no radar for sarcasm, and while it might be incapable of bias, there has to be some sort of trade-off. Open discussion between living, breathing editors about what news is worth broadcasting is never going to be replicated perfectly by a cloud of ones and zeros.
Facebook's internal processing is based on the activity of the people who use it, it groups them together based on the things they interact with, hence the 'echo chamber conundrum'. Personalised content on social media is all well and good, but personalised news? That's a reductive concept, we should all be getting the same news, it's how we react to it that sets us apart.
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @Songbird_Callum
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Facebook's Algorithms Have Been Trending Fake News
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, October 17, 2016
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, October 17, 2016
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.