Thread by @JuddLegum, 1. I've been a longtime skeptic of the Facebook @OversightBoard and remain [...]

1. I've been a longtime skeptic of the Facebook @OversightBoard and remain one but I was pretty impressed with the decision it released yesterday.

Here's why. https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

2. First the @OversightBoard called out Facebook directly for trying to use the Oversight Board as a mechanism to avoid accountability.

There were direct: "Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities. The Board declines Facebook’s request" https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

3. The @OversightBoard also understood that this is not just about Trump. IT'S ABOUT THE ALGORITHM.

So the Board asked Facebook about the algorithm and how it amplified Trump and all the lies that set the stage for January 6

Facebook REFUSED TO ANSWER

https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

4. And this is where I go back to being an @OversightBoard skeptic. The board identified the info it needed to do its job. Facebook said it wouldn't provide it and that's the end of the story.

It's not a court. Facebook defines the scope of its power. https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

5. The algorithm is key. Because it still favors Trumpism. And as long as that's the case, Facebook will have the same problems with or without Trump.

The data tells the story. https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

6. In April, according to new data released by @NewsWhip, The Daily Wire - a bigoted far-right site that does no original reporting - received more than double the distribution of the @washingtonpost and the @nytimes COMBINED

https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

7. Engagement (likes, shares, comments) on Facebook per article in April:

Daily Wire (54,084)

New York Times (2,943)

Washington Post (1,973) https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

8. And it's not just The Daily Wire.

Western Journal, an obscure right-wing aggregation site that pushed Trump's false claims of voter fraud, also received more distribution than the NYT or the WashPost. https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

9. Facebook is not reflecting reality. It's creating its own reality. In no other context are people 15 times more interested in drivel from The Daily Wire than reporting from the New York Times. https://popular.info/p/facebooks-problem-isnt-trump-its

Facebook's problem isn't Trump — it's the algorithm

Facebook is in the business of making money. And it's very good at it. In the first three months of 2021, Facebook raked in over $11 billion in profits, almost entirely from displaying targeted...

10. One day, Trump may be back allowed on Facebook. Or he may not. But as long as the Facebook algorithm continues to favor Trumpism, nothing much will change.

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