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It’s time to say goodbye to Facebook

NICK MATHEWS CONTRIBUTOR NICK MATHEWS IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI’S

Facebook’s desire to divorce from news is clear.

The latest example unfolds in Canada, where a battle rages between the federal government and tech titans Facebook and Google over payments to news organizations for links on their platforms. In the crossfire, news organizations and news consumers find themselves trapped, their hands tied by forces beyond their control.

In the face of this turmoil, perhaps it is time for news organizations to seize control of the seemingly uncontrollable chaos.

Instead of desperately holding onto the jilted partner, let Facebook walk away.

End this toxic relationship.

The Online News Act is an initiative aimed at bolstering Canada’s beleaguered news industry, which has witnessed the disappearance of 470 media outlets and a third of its journalism jobs since 2008, according to the government.

These challenges come as Facebook and Google leverage news content, siphon advertising revenue away from news organizations and capture as much as 80 per cent of the advertising share in markets. The Parliamentary Budget Office projected the Online News Act would generate more than $300 million annually for Canadian media.

While not flawless, it represents a step forward, a form of action to confront the challenges faced by the news industry.

In response, Facebook, much more vocal in this endeavour than Google, has not only issued threats, but has begun to ban links from Canadian news organizations on its platform.

It would come as no shock if, in the end, Google and Facebook faced differing outcomes in their tussles with the Canadian government.

We, as news consumers, should be content if Facebook splits from news.

If Facebook decides to comply with the Online News Act and negotiates compensation with news organizations for sharing links, the surge of funds undoubtedly will be a welcome relief for the struggling businesses. However, even in the event of successful negotiations, news organizations should consider limiting their direct reliance on Facebook. Cease sharing links, halt the allocation of resources toward it, choose to ignore its influence.

It is essential to recognize that this infusion of funds from the Online News Act will not act solely as a magical solution for news organizations. It does not address the industry’s long-standing over-reliance on advertising.

For sustainability, and growth, news organizations must revamp their antiquated business models, actively diversifying their sources of resources and tap into reader revenue through means like membership models, donations or events.

Time and again, Facebook has demonstrated its prioritization of financial gain over any true dedication to news or democracy. A striking illustration of this occurred in 2021 when, faced with its first decline in daily users in its 18-year history, Facebook eliminated its traditional “newsfeed” and implemented an algorithmic approach to prioritize content from video creators over news providers and the news content shared by its users.

Ever since its much-criticized problems with the spread of misinformation on its platform during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Facebook has increasingly tried to distance itself from news.

It’s become evident that news consumers are also increasingly distancing themselves from Facebook for news.

In the United States, the Pew Research Center highlights a consistent decline in the number of users who regularly rely on Facebook for news, plummeting from 54 per cent in 2020 to 44 per cent in 2022. Equally noteworthy, according to the 2023 Reuters Digital News Report, only one-in-four Canadians share news via social, messaging or email. Users sharing news on behalf of news organizations holds substantial value for the outlets.

The saying, “if it doesn’t spread, it’s dead,” underscores the critical importance of content sharing for these organizations.

News organizations understandably seek a revenue stream from Facebook, but this pursuit comes with trade-offs, as it renders them increasingly (overly) reliant on social media, ultimately influencing the content they create and distribute. In research with colleagues, for instance, we found news organizations often prioritize Facebook posts with national/international stories and lighter, more entertaining content over local, civic-oriented news.

The ongoing struggle between Facebook and the Canadian government is undoubtedly rooted in financial motives, but it goes beyond that, revolving around power, control and Facebook’s influential position within the global news and information ecosystem. It might benefit news organizations long-term if they regain some degree of control, ultimately granting Facebook’s wish for a divorce from news.

OPINION

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2023-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://torontostar.pressreader.com/article/281685439335180

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