Facebook is testing a new feature that displays alternative sources before you read an article, and it might be one of its best efforts yet to combat fake news.
The new feature will work with a small addition to the 'Related Articles' that first appeared in 2013. Related Articles or Related Articles show related content after reading an article, in an effort to get you to read and share more news on Facebook. With today's test, links to other articles will appear before you even click on anything.
Facebook doesn't specifically say that it's trying to combat fake news in this way, but its direction is clear:
These additional articles, which appear when they are talked about a lot on Facebook, will appear with a tab below the link. This should provide easier access to additional information, including articles recommended by third parties.
It's a small change, but it could work. Previous efforts to combat fake news have focused on flagging false stories (which took too long to do) and training Facebook members to spot obvious fake news.
By showing additional links before you click on an article, Facebook is able to ensure that:
- That you actually know that there are different perspectives before you are influenced by the posts you see.
- That you will see more articles from reliable sources.
- That Facebook doesn't have to wait for a third-party verification factor (which can take days) to identify and remove a fake news story.
Basically, Facebook seems to be trying a more sensible approach this time to tackling fake news and balancing bias by simply adding a big red “fake news” label. That way, users will be able to determine what is fake for themselves.
Of course, it's up to users to find and read the opinions listed, and there may be some who don't want to. At least the largest social network seems to be absolving itself of all responsibility. Perhaps the new feature still has a long way to go, but it's worth reiterating that it seems to be a step in the right direction.
