Name: Facebook's Switch to Local News Probably Won't Solve Any Problems
Uploaded: 2019-12-16
Duration: 2 min 28 s
Description: Your newsfeed will look a little different.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, and welcome to Tech Debate, the show where we discuss the issues of the day in two minutes. Today we're talking about Facebook's decision to highlight local news more prominently in news feeds. Jeff, what do you think? Good idea? Local news and Facebook, what could go wrong? News and Facebook generally, a great track record. Here's the thing. I mean, we need more local news. We know that local media outlets are struggling, dying. The press is a good part of democracy. However, Facebook is probably the very last person I want to put in charge of local news. Look at their track record. I mean, come on. Yeah, but local news, I mean, Facebook has already decimated the local news industry, the news industry in general. This self-conscious sort of pivot back to what matters and what's good about journalism can only be a good thing. In theory, I like it. Zuckerberg is out there saying, let's turn the temperature down. Let's talk about fun local stuff. But the other thing, Mark Zuckerberg doesn't understand news. He never has. And if he did, he would know local news is some of the bitterest, most contentious issues-- fights you can find in the country. And what if we-- he might just stir everyone up on the local level, instead of the national one. That's true. I feel like there is also the fear of fake news. Like, fake news could happen on the local level. But then, again, I feel like this is part of an iteration of Facebook kind of figuring out what does work in news, and maybe they'll put more focus on more trusted outlets. Right, but every time they try to figure it out, something goes horribly wrong. Like, the Russians try to hijack the election or something, and I'm just worried this is going to end by Macedonians writing my neighborhood news. That's possible. But wouldn't, say, take the Russians, they're not going to-- it's hard to imagine them getting involved in state and local elections. If they get less bang for their buck because they're looking at smaller communities, maybe they'll look elsewhere. Right, but Anne, what about stirring up racial grievance or something like that, or red versus blue stuff, at the local town level, planting a couple of fake stories? I mean, that could really poison communities. I think what you have to hope for is that the mob mentality that drove a lot of this fake news that drove the pizza gate scandals and all this stuff is going to be diminished because it's a smaller scale. There's more individuals, less mob. It's the internet and Facebook and news. I don't know. Count me skeptical. But let's hope for the best. And unfortunately, that's all the time we have for today. Tune in next week to fortune.com for more Tech Debate. [MUSIC PLAYING] 

Facebook's Switch to Local News Probably Won't Solve Any Problems

Politics

Your newsfeed will look a little different.

hello and welcome. Detective ate the show where we discuss the issues of the day in two minutes. Today we're talking about Facebook's decision to highlight local news more prominently in New speed. Jeff, what do you think? Good idea. Local news on Facebook. What could go wrong? News and face were generally a great track record. Here's the thing. I mean, we need more local news. We know that local media outlets struggling, dying presses good part of democracy. However, Facebook is probably the very last person I want to put in charge of local news with their track record. I mean, come on. Yeah, but local news I mean, Facebook has already decimated the local news industry, the news industry in general. This self conscious sort of pivot back to what matters and what's good about journalism can only be a good thing. In theory, I like it sucker birds out there saying, Let's turn the temperature down. Let's talk about foreign local stuff. But nothing. Mark Secretary doesn't understand news he never has. And if he did, he would know. Local news is some of the bitterest, most contentious issues, you know, fights you confined in the country. And what if we might just stir everyone up on the local level? So the national one? That's true. I feel like there is also the fear of fake news, like big news could happen on the local level. But then again, if you feel like this is part of an iteration of Facebook, kind of figuring out what does work in news and maybe they'll, you know, put more focus on more trusted outlet, right? But every time they try to figure it out, something like, you know, goes horribly wrong. Like the Russians tried to hijack the election or something. You know, I'm just worried this is gonna end by Macedonians, Like writing my neighborhood news. That's that's possible. But wouldn't you say Take the Russians? They're not gonna. It's hard to imagine them getting involved in state and local election if they get less bang for their buck because they're looking at smaller communities. Maybe they'll look elsewhere. Right, But And what about stirring up like, you know, racial grievance or something like that? You know, our red versus blue stuff at the local town level, planting couple fake stories. I mean, that could really poisoned communities. I think what you have to hope for is that the mob mentality that drove a lot of this fake news that drove the Pizza Gate scandal and all this stuff is gonna be diminished because it's a smaller scale. There's more individuals, the Internet on Facebook and news out of Nam. Can't be skeptical, but but let's hope for the best and all the time we have for today. Tune in next week to fortune dot com for more tech debates.