The social network has started testing prompts that ask the user to read articles before sharing them; this functionality already exists on Twitter.
Facebook has started testing another feature aimed at curbing disinformation on its platform. Now, the social network displays a prompt to suggest users read the article before posting – which is triggered when you try to share a post with a link without opening the page first.
A similar mechanism is present on Twitter since last year. It increased the open rate of messages by 40% during the test phase on Twitter. According to Facebook, the idea is to promote more informed sharing.
“You are about to share this article without opening it,” the notice read. “Sharing articles without reading them can mean missing out on important facts.”
After receiving the alert, you can still choose to share the message as normal, without opening the link, but it’s always best to be sure what you post to avoid spreading false information.
Starting today, we’re testing a way to promote more informed sharing of news articles. If you go to share a news article link you haven’t opened, we’ll show a prompt encouraging you to open it and read it, before sharing it with others. pic.twitter.com/brlMnlg6Qg
— Facebook Newsroom (@fbnewsroom) May 10, 2021
Other efforts to combat fake news
The novelty presented above is another of Facebook’s efforts to prevent the spread of fake news. The social network announced in early April that it was expanding the reach of the tool that directs users to reliable information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Facebook claims to have deleted more than 1.3 billion accounts that broadcast or were created to broadcast fake news. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended content moderation as a way to fight disinformation during his testimony before the US Congress.
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