By AFPMore by this AuthorNew YorkThe biggest reputational risk Facebook and other social media companies had expected in 2020 was fake news surrounding the US presidential election. AdvertisementPart of the reason is that social media algorithms are geared to appeal to someone's habits and interests: the emphasis is on likability, not accuracy. ACCURACYPrompts urging users to consider the accuracy of content they are spreading on social networks are needed, said Rand, co-author of a study on Covid-19 misinformation that was published earlier this month. That approach – known as "accuracy nudge intervention" – from social media companies could limit the spread of misinformation, the report concluded. "Our goal has been to make certain everyone on our service has access to credible, authoritative health information," he said.

Source: Daily Nation March 29, 2020 04:07 UTC