This continues to seem like an absolute win for anyone using Facebook in Canada. The key here is that they're not blocking links to Canadian news sites, but to all new sites for users in the country.
That's going to fundamentally change the kind of content users see in their streams.
That is, of course, if Meta actually upholds the blackout of all news sites. Waiting to see what kind of fashy bullshit is actually allowed in still.
What will count as a news site? So obviously ones like Reuters, CBC, The Guardian will be blocked, but what about the disinformation bullshit sites like C0v1dHoAx-Chronicle dot net ? They were only “news” insofar as they could piggyback on reputable information and spread their bile.
I suspect only the fake news sites will wind up on Facebook, furthering the echo chamber of right wing disinformation.
This is exactly what I was thinking too. Actual news has never been the problem; it's the constant flow of trash MeeMaw and PawPaw are sharing as truth that is non-factual and provided by non-news outlets.
Canadian media is a loser, particularly the small and independent media outlets that are more reliant on social media to develop community and build their audience. The loss of Facebook links will take a serious toll and undermine innovative companies in Canada.
Sounds like these are the same “independent media outlets” that have consistently been pushing anti-science, right-wing, anti-women, anti-LGBT lies and disinformation, which gets spread around like a virus on Facebook.
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