iTWire Monday, 05 July 2021 10:36 How Facebook’s dark ads amplify regressive, racist, or sexist activity Featured
Dark ads, according to Monash University researchers, are stereotyped ads that are only visible to its intended audiences. Researchers warn that it reinforces sexist messages to its target: for example, men were three times more likely to see finance ads while women saw more clothing and wellness ads. They also added that a public forum or a discussion on these ads was urgently needed.
Facebook’s data-driven micro-targeting dark ads lack accountability and could enable the spread of disinformation, discrimination, and harmful stereotyping, according to findings by Monash University researchers.
The WeChat model: How Facebook’s Australian ban could change the business of news
If the current situation continues, it may leave Facebook operating much more like the Chinese platform WeChat, where news is ruled by platform-specific content houses cranking out huge volumes of low-quality articles.
Feb. 22, 2021, 9:21 a.m.
Last week, in response to Australia’s proposed media bargaining code, Facebook effectively halted all posting of links from Australian news pages and stopped people in Australia from posting or viewing international news as well.
The change, which has sent publishers’ traffic tumbling, happened overnight, and may be undone if either Australia or Facebook backs down. But if the current situation continues, it may leave Facebook operating much more like the Chinese platform WeChat, where news is ruled by platform-specific content houses cranking out huge volumes of low-quality articles. And that might suit Facebook quite well if not the public.
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Facebook’s “news ban”, in response to Australia’s proposed media bargaining code, has been hard to miss if you’ve spent any time on social networks in the past day or so.
The social media platform has effectively halted all posting of links from Australian news pages and stopped people in Australia from posting or viewing international news as well.
The change happened overnight, and may be undone if either Australia or Facebook backs down.
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But if the current situation continues, it may leave Facebook operating much more like the Chinese platform WeChat, where news is ruled by platform-specific content houses cranking out huge volumes of low-quality articles. And that might suit Facebook quite well - if not the public.