Re:Facebook relies on editors' judgment for trending news fe...
by mc32 on Thursday May 12, 2016 @04:30PM
(#11686534)
There is a difference in that Fox news isn't the only global news network whereas the facebook platform which delivers news among other things and through which a good percentage of people receive their news is in essence the only global platform.
So, in some ways they are a news feed monopoly because they have little competition in a space where for a significant proportion of the population it is their main news source.
On the other hand, I can see the attraction to curate/censor the news.
Let's say there is an event in some volatile country and there is news which if widely exposed would essentially pour fuel on a fire but the event which would stoke the fire is not incidental but you know could be used as an excuse for violence and result in numerous deaths. I can see the desire to keep people alive and protecting property by moderating the news, at least temporarily till things cool down.
So, in some ways they are a news feed monopoly because they have little competition in a space where for a significant proportion of the population it is their main news source.
On the other hand, I can see the attraction to curate/censor the news.
Let's say there is an event in some volatile country and there is news which if widely exposed would essentially pour fuel on a fire but the event which would stoke the fire is not incidental but you know could be used as an excuse for violence and result in numerous deaths. I can see the desire to keep people alive and protecting property by moderating the news, at least temporarily till things cool down.