Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has announced plans to remove its dedicated News tab in the UK, France, and Germany, marking a significant shift in its approach to news content. The decision, slated for early December, follows a discernible trend of Meta downplaying the importance of news across its platforms. Although the move doesn’t impact the ability of news organizations to post content on Facebook in those territories, it does underline Meta’s changing priorities and focus.
The move away from news is part of Meta’s larger strategy to invest resources in services and products that users care more about. According to the company, news accounts for less than three percent of what people see in their Facebook feeds, with users showing more interest in short-form video, social connections, and exploring personal interests and opportunities. Despite the shift, Meta continues to stress its commitment to providing users with access to reliable information and combating misinformation through third-party fact checkers.
Meta Phases Out Facebook News in Several Countries
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is set to discontinue its News tab in Germany, France, and the UK in early December. This move reflects the company’s declining interest in news content, which is in stark contrast to its former strategy.
Meta’s Shift in Strategy
Meta has been indicating a shift away from news links and discussions across its platforms. Unlike in Canada, where it blocked news content in protest against a law requiring it to pay publishers, Meta has stated that news organizations can continue posting links, Reels, and similar content on Facebook in the three affected European countries. Users will still have unfettered access to news content.
Meta has committed to honoring existing Facebook News deals with publishers in those countries but will not renew these agreements or enter into new ones. The company has also stated it does not plan to offer new products specifically tailored for news publishers in the future.
User Preferences Drive Changes
Meta’s decision to discontinue the News tab is part of a broader strategy to direct resources towards services and products that users show more interest in. According to Meta, news content comprises less than three percent of what users see on their Facebook feeds. Instead, the company states that users are more interested in short-form video content, connecting with other people, and discovering opportunities, interests, and passions.
Meta’s Focus on Reliable Information
Despite the changes, Meta maintains that its commitment to providing users with access to reliable information remains undeterred. The company plans to continue working with third-party fact-checkers to control misinformation.
This move is in line with Meta’s gradual de-emphasis on news across its platforms. It transitioned from human curators to algorithms for placing stories in the News tab earlier this year. Furthermore, when it launched Threads, its latest platform designed to compete with X (formerly Twitter), it announced that news content would not be prioritized.
Controversy in Canada
Meta’s decision to completely remove news content in Canada has been met with significant criticism. Critics have chastised the company for restricting access to reliable information on serious issues such as the wildfires that have plagued the country.
To comply with the Canadian Online News Act and continue providing news content on Facebook and Instagram, Meta would need to pay Canadian publishers around CAD $62 million ($45.5 million) per year. Despite generating over five times that amount in revenue per day last year, Meta has maintained its position.
Takeaways
Meta’s decision to phase out its news tab in three countries and its continued standoff with the Canadian government highlight a significant shift in the company’s strategy. As social media platforms continue to evolve, the role they play in disseminating news content may also change, with implications for users, publishers and regulators alike.
