2 New Facebook Changes That Will Impact Everyone

TL;DR

Facebook prioritizes original reporting and demotes non-transparent content.

Transcript

Facebook just made two major updates to the way that they rank content inside of their newsfeed and this is going to actually have a pretty major impact on what you see and the traffic that publishers get to their websites so let's go ahead and take a look at these two big changes to the way that facebook is serving content within the website okay ... Read More

Key Insights

• Facebook now prioritizes original reporting, aiming to promote unique, first-reported content in its newsfeed rankings.
• Articles lacking transparent authorship will be demoted, emphasizing the need for clear attribution and credible sources.
• Facebook's changes are a response to widespread fake news and pressure from brands for better content monitoring.
• The platform will analyze articles on similar topics, promoting the most shared and referenced original sources.
• Websites need to provide detailed editorial staff information to be considered credible and gain higher visibility.
• Facebook's approach mirrors Google's EAT (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) guidelines, aiming to improve content quality.
• The updates aim to reduce clickbait and ad farms, promoting genuine, informative content instead.
• These changes mark a significant shift for publishers, requiring adaptation to maintain traffic and visibility on Facebook.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the two major changes Facebook has made?

Facebook has made two significant changes to its content ranking system. The first change is prioritizing original reporting, which involves promoting unique content that is first reported and has clear authorship. The second change involves demoting articles that lack transparent authorship, ensuring that content sources are credible and identifiable.

Q: Why is Facebook prioritizing original reporting?

Facebook is prioritizing original reporting to improve the quality of content on its platform. By promoting unique and first-reported content, Facebook aims to reduce the spread of fake news and misinformation. This change also responds to pressure from brands and users for better content monitoring and a more reliable newsfeed experience.

Q: How does Facebook determine which articles to promote?

Facebook determines which articles to promote by analyzing groups of articles on similar topics. It identifies the most shared and referenced original sources within the Facebook ecosystem. The platform looks for articles that have gained significant engagement and references, promoting those as credible sources while demoting less authoritative content.

Q: What information must websites provide to be considered credible?

Websites must provide detailed information about their editorial staff to be considered credible by Facebook. This includes listing the first and last names of the editorial team, demonstrating that articles are written by real, identifiable individuals. This requirement aligns with Facebook's efforts to promote transparency and trustworthiness in content.

Q: How do these changes impact publishers on Facebook?

These changes significantly impact publishers on Facebook by requiring them to adapt their content strategies. Publishers must focus on producing original reporting with clear authorship to maintain visibility. Additionally, they need to provide detailed editorial information to be considered credible. Failure to adapt could result in reduced traffic and visibility on the platform.

Q: What is the connection between Facebook's changes and Google's EAT guidelines?

Facebook's changes are similar to Google's EAT (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) guidelines, which emphasize content quality and credibility. Both platforms aim to improve the reliability of information by promoting content from authoritative and trustworthy sources. This alignment shows a broader industry trend toward enhancing content quality and reducing misinformation.

Q: How might these changes affect the prevalence of clickbait on Facebook?

These changes are likely to reduce the prevalence of clickbait on Facebook by demoting content that lacks originality and transparent authorship. By prioritizing genuine, informative content and suppressing ad farms and clickbait, Facebook aims to enhance the quality of information shared on its platform, leading to a more trustworthy newsfeed experience.

Q: What steps should publishers take to adapt to these changes?

Publishers should focus on creating original, high-quality content with clear authorship to adapt to Facebook's changes. They need to provide detailed information about their editorial staff to establish credibility. Additionally, publishers should engage with their audience to increase shares and references, ensuring their content is recognized as authoritative within the Facebook ecosystem.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Facebook has introduced significant changes to its content ranking system, focusing on promoting original reporting and demoting articles without transparent authorship. This move is aimed at curbing fake news and improving content quality on the platform.

• The platform will now analyze groups of articles on similar topics, prioritizing those with the most shares and references within Facebook. This change is designed to highlight credible sources and suppress less authoritative content.

• To be considered credible, websites must provide detailed information about their editorial staff, including first and last names. This shift mirrors Google's EAT guidelines, emphasizing expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in content.