Is Facebook Plugged In to the Threat of ‘Fake News’?

By Danny Cardozo | @DannyLCT

Since its inception, part of Facebook’s company philosophy is to connect users with the world of people and information. The validity of information that is shared is sometimes questionable. With the rising controversy of the amount of fake news that has surfaced, the social media behemoth is making this no exception. In fact, just recently Facebook has blocked a popular third party plug-in that prevents fraudulent news from spreading.

Known as the “B.S. Detector” the plug-in flags potentially hoax news links shared on Facebook so that users have a chance to think twice before clicking on it. But according to Facebook’s most recent move, they’re not allowing third party apps that limit the shareability of their content, even if such content is ‘fake’.

In a mid-November announcement, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed the growing concern of false information being shared through his site, and said he was not planning to take action. “We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties,” said the social media magnate.

The Menlo Park-based company has expressed intentions of taking their own brand of action against the distribution of fake news; however, their most recent move could indicate otherwise.

With Facebook blocking the third-party plug-ins that Zuckerberg claimed to rely on to regulate false information, it could leave the public wondering if Facebook acknowledges the severity of the spread of fake news. Are they blocking “B.S. Detector” and other third party plug-ins in order to launch what could be the latest assault against the vast dispersing of counterfeit news?

What do you make of Facebook’s latest move? Tweet us @Socialmediadel and let us know.