Fact-checking has emerged as one of the most prominent policy tools to combat the spread of misinformation, but critics have argued that it infringes upon freedom of expression and that it has no meaningful impact on the circulation of misinformation. This column provides evidence from the field that fact-checking significantly reduces engagement with posts on Facebook rated as false and also decreases users' subsequent activity. The findings suggest that the impact of fact-checking primarily results not from Facebook’s actions to hide or demote content, but rather from users’ behavioural responses, challenging the idea that it suppresses free speech.
the fact that fact-checking has become a point of contention (since the emergence of trump–coincidence? lol) illustrates just how far society has fallen.
the idea that fact-checking “infringes upon freedom of expression” is laughably absurd on many levels. for one thing: no, it fucking doesn’t. you’re free to lie through your teeth day in and day out. what is fact-checking doing to stop that? also, this position implies that your freedom of expression to tell lies outweighs my freedom of expression to call those lies lies? excuse me, but fuck that shit.
2 years ago i would have said i can’t believe this article needed to be written (supposedly–equally likely generated), but today i’m not even surprised. fucking fact-checking is under attack, because of course it has to be.
also the claim that fact-checking “has no meaningful impact on the circulation of misinformation” is mind-bogglingly stupid. fact-checking is the ONLY thing that has ANY meaningful impact on the circulation of misinformation.
I was gonna say, is anyone with good intentions suggesting we get rid of fact checking?
you know the answer to that question
The existence of the article alone is either deliberate or organically emergent bad-faith, even if it’s pushing back against a supposed movement against fact-checking, it is legitimizing the argument by saying there’s “sides” in the issue.
You obviously didn’t read the article. 😥
i admit, i was drunk and skimmed it. sorry.
i stand by everything else i said though