Yesterday, I addressed the issue of fake news. Facebook faces scrutiny. That’s because six weeks after firing editors, fake news stories still make trending pages. Now, meet Google News’ fact check feature.
Effective today, fact checks will appear on news stories. As a result, fact check labels will include ‘opinion’, ‘local source’ and ‘highly cited’. Hence, Google leaders look forward to fact check. Due to this, Google hopes to separate fact, from opinion, from spin, from outright tabloids and lies. These labels are are available on the Google News site. Also, fact check labels are available on Android and Apple smart devices. Furthermore, these labels are only in the United States and United Kingdom . But you can bet they’re coming in other nations. They just need a while to get popular.
So I’ve said it before: Facebook really tries to clamp down on fake news. It doesn’t seem to be working all the way. But five fake stories out of millions: I’ll take that as a good start. And they don’t have a fact checking system like this. In fact, some accused the social media conglomerate of literally promoting fake news. I’m glad Facebook tries to get it’s act together. Thankfully, others Internet companies, like Google, are too.
This couldn’t come at a better time. Look at the mudslinging in this election. Listen at the bickering between the US and Russia. Take a listen to these talking heads in our media. Read the Hollywood gossip so many Americans obsess over. In one poll I read, about 6% of Americans trust their mainstream media. I wonder why. We need the truth. We need it now. Our country and our world are at a critical stage. Nothing but the truth will help us. I hope fact check systems will help us get the truth. Will Claim Review help us get the truth?