Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Facebook seeing increased misinformation ahead of 2020: study
The Hill ^ | 11 06 2019 | Marty Johnson

Posted on 11/06/2019 11:36:39 AM PST by yesthatjallen

The number of fake political news stories on Facebook has surged as the 2020 presidential race heats up, according to Avaaz, a global advocacy group that tracks misinformation.

The group, which released its findings on the issue Wednesday, looked at the 100 most-viral fake political stories on Facebook in 2019. In total, those 100 stories were posted more than 2.3 million times and grossed an estimated 158.9 million views. For comparison, just under 140 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election.

According to Avaaz's report, fake news stories that went against Democrats and liberals made up 62 percent of the total stories and drew 104 million views. Twenty-nine percent of the fake stories went against Republicans or conservatives and were seen 49 million times. The remaining 9 percent featured pro-Republican content.

Over half of the views (84 million) have come in the past three months, the group says.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2020demprimary; facebook; fakestudy; newmedia; socialmedia; zuckerberg
I never had a Facebook account and I'm not a fan of Zuckerberg so you understand I'm not defending Facebook and Zuckerberg.

As much as Democrats have benefited from Facebook in the past, they will never forgive Zuckerberg for allowing Russian ads on Facebook. They honestly believe Russian Facebook ads cost Hillary the election.

They're doing everything they can to discredit Facebook including now running fake ads that are not fact checked to embarrass Zuckerberg and force him to self-regulate.

Regardless what you think of Zuckerberg and Facebook, Democrats are trying to seize control.

This is a coordinated attack and destroy.

Related:

From toast of town to toxic: Facebook CEO on outs with Dems

1 posted on 11/06/2019 11:36:39 AM PST by yesthatjallen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: yesthatjallen

Well if they’d stop taking down Pro-Trump Posters on social media sites then they’d have a ‘fair’ picture rather than show their obvious bias.


2 posted on 11/06/2019 11:49:36 AM PST by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yesthatjallen; Army Air Corps; BenLurkin

3 posted on 11/06/2019 11:49:52 AM PST by KC_Lion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yesthatjallen

Several months after the 2016 election, I happened to look back in my Facebook timeline, and I saw a warning from Facebook posted that I’d never seen before saying that I’d posted “fake news” about Pope Francis endorsing Donald Trump. I’d even posted it in November AFTER the election.

Anyone here who knows me pretty well knows that I’m an evangelical Christian who would not endorse something Catholic or Pope Francis. And, I always investigate the source of an article, and had already heard of this fake story about Pope Francis and knew without being told that he’d never endorse Trump. I knew before many Catholics that Francis wasn’t going to uphold Catholic doctrine.

In short, I’d never post an article like that, even several weeks after the election. So I’m mystified as to how that post appeared in my timeline. My suspicion is that it might have been planted by Facebook.


4 posted on 11/06/2019 12:02:28 PM PST by Faith Presses On (Above all, politics should serve the Great Commission, "preparing the way for the Lord.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yesthatjallen

Facebook or any other social media service should not have an opinion regarding the information it is carrying - misinformation or not! Does “the channel - say a wire” know what’s in the signal flowing down it? NO!

The bottom line from all the social media carriers should be “ you read something you don’t like? Don’t read it or ignore it! otherwise don’t subscribe!” Particularly with today’s technology the customer ought to be able to block what he/she doesn’t like! Set up your private forum and ignore everyone else!


5 posted on 11/06/2019 12:04:02 PM PST by Reily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yesthatjallen
According to Avaaz's report, fake news stories that went against Democrats and liberals made up 62 percent of the total stories and drew 104 million views.

And how did Avaaz determine what was "fake news"?

6 posted on 11/06/2019 1:36:42 PM PST by Fedora
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC_Lion

Exactly


7 posted on 11/06/2019 2:21:54 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Fedora

They went against Democrats and liberals, of course.


8 posted on 11/06/2019 2:22:44 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson