Photo by Dima Solomin on Unsplash
Facebook News Tab Ending in US and Australia
March 1, 2024
In April 2024, Facebook will discontinue its dedicated news tab, Facebook News, in the United States and Australia. This move mirrors the deprecation of Facebook News in the U.K., France, and Germany last year.
Despite this change, users in these countries will still be able to access news content through their Facebook feeds. Publishers will retain access to their accounts and pages, enabling them to share news article links and content as before.
The decision to end Facebook News aligns with the company’s strategy to prioritize investments in products and services that users value most, such as short-form video. Facebook observed an over 80% decline in users accessing Facebook News in Australia and the U.S. last year. The platform aims to cater to users’ preferences, recognizing that they primarily use Facebook for social connections and personal interests rather than news consumption.
While Facebook News will be phased out, other Meta products and services in these countries will remain unaffected. News publishers can still share links to their articles on Facebook, utilize features like Reels and the ad system to reach wider audiences, and retain full revenue from outbound links on the platform.
Existing agreements with news publishers in Australia, France, and Germany will remain unchanged, but new commercial deals for traditional news content will not be pursued in affected countries. Additionally, Facebook will not introduce new products specifically tailored for news publishers in the future.
Despite the discontinuation of Facebook News, Meta remains committed to combating misinformation and providing users with reliable information. The platform collaborates with third-party fact-checkers accredited by organizations like the International Fact-Checking Network. With partnerships with over 90 independent fact-checking organizations worldwide, Meta has invested over $150 million since 2016 to combat the spread of misinformation.
While Facebook News will soon be a thing of the past in the U.S. and Australia, Meta’s dedication to connecting users with reliable information remains steadfast.
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