Removes Facebook News Feed in Europe
In a significant move, Facebook's parent company Meta has announced that starting in December, Facebook's News Feed will be removed in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
This decision was made for business and legal reasons.
A Choice Consistent with the Direction of the Goal
According to TechCrunch, Meta stated that this decision is part of their ongoing efforts to focus on products and services that resonate more with users. Despite the initial launch of the feature, it appears Meta is now taking a different direction. Users will still be able to view links to news articles, and publishers will retain access to their accounts, but there will be no further commercial agreements or developments specifically for publisher-focused products.
The Reasons Behind this Decision
The reasons behind this choice can be traced back to two main factors. On the one hand, in recent years, Meta has shifted its focus away from sharing news as a central element of the social network, instead focusing on content creators and the revenue generated by them.
On the other hand, there may be legal implications that contributed to this decision. In early August, artificial intelligence regulation came under scrutiny in Canada. The publication of the Online News Act in Canada led Meta to block access to links containing news articles, including on Instagram.
This decision represents a significant change in Meta's strategy in Europe and raises important questions about the regulation of online news.
