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The rise of false information and hoaxes on social media platforms like Facebook has become a growing concern, especially with recent changes in Meta’s approach to fact-checking and content moderation. In a recent incident, shortly after Donald Trump’s second presidency began, a false claim spread on Facebook that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was offering a cash bounty for reports of undocumented people. The claim, which stated that ICE was offering $750 per illegal immigrant reported through their tip form, was debunked by fact-checkers and labeled as false by Facebook.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced plans to stop working with fact-checkers in the U.S. to label false or misleading content. Instead, Meta is revamping its program to pay bonuses to creators for content based on views and engagement, potentially incentivizing the spread of false information. This change in approach has raised concerns about the resurgence of incendiary false stories on Facebook, some of which could be funded by Meta.

ProPublica identified 95 Facebook pages that regularly post made-up headlines designed to draw engagement and stoke political divisions. Most of these pages are managed by individuals overseas and have a total of more than 7.7 million followers. Meta has removed 81 pages for being managed by fake accounts or misrepresenting themselves as American while posting about politics and social issues.

The decision to scrap fact-checking in the U.S. and replace it with a version of the Community Notes system has raised questions about the effectiveness of this new approach. Critics argue that Meta’s decision to remove fact-checking before giving the new system time to prove itself is risky and could lead to a surge in viral hoaxes for profit.

The changes at Meta reflect a broader trend in social media platforms moving away from fact-checking and content moderation towards a focus on free expression. However, the potential consequences of this shift, including the spread of false information and hoaxes, remain a concern for many observers. As the landscape of social media continues to evolve, the need for effective strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation becomes increasingly important.