Rumors surfaced on the internet later today pointing to yet another antics of the social media giant. As per reports, Facebook is improving its image by utilizing the NewsFeed section to show pro-facebook posts and videos to its users. The social media firm has faced intense inspection from lawmakers and regulators since 2018. The recent data-handling scandal has raised questions about whether the company is doing enough to protect personal data. Additionally, Facebook was also accused of not doing enough to curb the spread of false information about elections, coronaviruses, and other issues.
Facebook is improving its image through Project Amplify
In January, the CEO along with other executives of Facebook reportedly proposed an initiative, code-named; Project Amplify – that run ads to show more pro-Facebook news and feature more posts penned by the company. After its initiation, Facebook began testing the project in three cities through a tool called “Quick Promote,” marking the company’s first time explicitly pushing positive press about itself.
Project Amplify tends to secretly conceal the sequel of decisions that Facebook has made this year to reshape its image. Since the January meeting, the company has begun a prolonged effort to change its portrayal by distancing Mr. Zuckerberg from scandals, reducing outsiders’ access to internal data, burying a potentially negative report about teens, and increasing its advertising to highlight its brand.
Read more: Facebook Lands in Hot Water due to Instagram’s Internal Teen Research Leak
Zuckerberg distanced from scandals
Facebook has also initiated a strategy to keep the main face – Mark Zuckerberg – out of the news. That’s why Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg – instead of Mr. Zuckerberg – told that the storming of the U.S. Capitol had nothing to do with Facebook. In July, when President Biden said the social network was killing people by spreading Covid-19 misinformation. Facebook’s vice president for integrity, Guy Rosen, questioned the President’s views and pointed out that the White House had missed its coronavirus vaccination goals.
While all this was going another leaked report indicates that Facebook is interfering with its tools to study News Feed. The company has been adding junk code to HTML features meant to improve accessibility for visually impaired users. The code prevents browsers from automatically collecting data about posts in News Feed, and may also be hindering screen readers used by blind and visually impaired users.
