Rappler official called out Facebook for its algorithm that allows proliferation of “Facebook trolls” that spread fake news online.
CEO of Rappler, Maria Ressa, told ABS-CBN that the social media application uses an algorithm that allows users to only see content they want to see or agree with. This has lead to a political divide among its users.
“Let’s say, if you are against President Duterte, you’re only talking to the people like you, and you will move further out here,” said Ressa.
“If you’re for President Duterte, since you’re only talking among people like you, you’ll move further out here, and there is no public space.”
Ressa also claimed that Facebook treats facts based on “popularity” since stories with more engagement are more likely to appear in timelines of users.
“If you could get 30,000 people — sana they’re people — but if you can have 30,000 fake accounts click, click, click, click, click, you then will win the game. Facts don’t work like that,” she added.
Facebook Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg has apologized earlier for how the site is viewed as a tool to divide people.
“For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.
