PETALING JAYA: Tech giant Meta Platforms Inc’s decision to scrap fact-checking has prompted social media users and parents to be more cautious, driving them toward credible and established sources for information.
Business development executive Christina Lopez, 46, said despite Meta’s move, it will unlikely change her social media habits, including on Facebook.
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“I will still binge, but I will be extra careful with links, videos or content that involves news or opinions,” she said yesterday.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Jan 7 that it would replace its fact-checkers with a user-based “community notes” system to flag inaccurate posts, much like that on X, formerly Twitter.
Launched in 2016, Meta’s fact-checking system identified hoaxes via staff and technology that flagged posts likely to contain misinformation.
Fact-checkers verified and rated these posts, issuing warnings for false content and limiting its visibility.
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Users who have shared misleading posts receive a notification providing them with a link to the fact-check article.
Corrections by authors lifted the restrictions.
On Jan 8, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Meta’s move to remove independent fact-checking on its platforms would have implications but would not immediately affect Malaysian users.
“At the moment, I don’t see it affecting the Malaysian market, only the United States,” he said, referring to Meta’s initial implementation of the move over the next few months.
Meta said the rollback is starting in the United States but does not apply to other countries “at this time.” However, it has since announced several layoffs.
Lopez, who is an avid content consumer, said she spends hours mostly on Facebook watching videos and reading articles on topics to her liking.
“At times, I’ll check who the content creator is and whether or not they posted similar content in the past.
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“However, I will also continue to only trust established and credible sources,” she said, referring to mainstream media and established news portals.
Hamidah Ahmad, 45, a homemaker and a mother of two, expressed concern over Meta’s move, saying that it might lead to the spread of fake news.
“I will remind my kids to not blindly take social media content at face value and to always verify what they find online by cross-referencing with other sources.
“As a parent, I am really wary of clickbait articles because children don’t understand what they are. If there is no gatekeeping, it will open the way to predators and scammers targeting vulnerable groups.
“Also, you do not want your teenagers to be radicalised or influenced by fake content.
“As such, I will never allow social media use for my kid until he is more mature and understands how the world works,” said Hamidah.
Businessman J. Yumnesh, 37, appeared unfazed by the changes, saying that he was unsure if it has any impact on Malaysians.
“Does this mean it applies to our country?
“If it happens, perhaps we will have more freedom to get more information. Whatever it is, in terms of news or information, I will go to a trusted news website or go to any search engine to validate the truth,” he said.
Content Forum chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said Meta’s move to shift from third-party fact-checking to a community-based approach indicates the evolving complexities of addressing misinformation in the digital space.
“Misinformation or disinformation is a growing challenge, particularly during elections, where false narratives can erode trust and divide communities.
“It is vital for platforms to strike a balance between promoting free expression and providing users with the tools to navigate the online world responsibly.”
