Mark Zuckerberg is directing Facebook to promote more video content. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Facebook will stop paying newspaper publishers and will shut down its news section entirely, saying people don't come to the social network for news or political content.
Meta, Facebook's parent company, said it would terminate deals with US and Australian publishers and remove the news tab that provided users with a feed of articles next month.
It said people would still be able to read news on Facebook posted by their friends , and the accounts they follow, including news publishers.
The company did the same last year in the UK and Europe, but closing its news division in the rest of the world will see Facebook effectively cut ties with news companies, many of which have staked their future on millions of readers coming from social media. .
The announcement prompted a furious response from the Australian government, which introduced laws requiring internet companies and news groups to enter into licensing agreements in 2021.
Meta paid out millions of pounds to publishers around the world in subsequent years after claims the tech giant profited from their work.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We know it is absolutely important that the media information could function properly and be properly funded. Journalism is important, and the idea that research and work done by others can be free is simply untenable.»
The Australian government said it was seeking advice on the next steps it could take under its media negotiations code. which governs the relationship between news and internet companies and has led to dozens of deals between the companies.
Mehta said: “As a company, we need to focus our time and resources on what people tell us they want to see more on the platform, including short videos.”
“The number of people using Facebook The amount of news in Australia and the US fell by more than 80% last year. We know that people come to Facebook not for news and political content, but to connect with people and discover new opportunities, passions and interests.”
Meta once courted news publishers, which has led to companies like Vice and BuzzFeed receiving huge valuations on the basis that they can benefit from traffic from social networks.
But in recent years, the company has steadily reduced the importance of news and instead promoted other content types such as TikTok. short style videos.
Sir Nick Clegg, Meta's head of global communications, championed the company's payments to news publishers as something that «ensures the sustainability of journalism.»
New digital markets Bill UK competition and consumer protection is expected to force major internet companies to pay news publishers.
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