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America is divided. During the current delicate phase, social networks are responsible.
Even before the votes are counted, Donald Trump claims victory for himself in front of the cameras. Both Facebook and Twitter have prepared for this case: even before the elections, the two social networks made it clear that they would not spread the premature claim of one of the candidates without comment.
Twitter and Facebook depend on established media. These include various television stations (including Fox News) or the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies. On Twitter, at least two sources must confirm a winner.
Dial and brake
Until it’s clear who won the race, Twitter flags messages that prematurely announce a victory as problematic. The social network also marks tweets that ask for violence, intended to intimidate or spread false news. Twitter also reduces the spread of such problematic content, for example by asking users to enter text before sharing or by completely blocking all interactions (like, comment or share).
Viral messages
Facebook has established a voting center where specialists use artificial intelligence to search for messages that violate the guidelines. This includes posts calling for violence.
The distribution of fake news should also be avoided. Messages with fake content are marked as such. The social network works with 80 organizations that verify the facts. Facebook also constantly monitors which posts are going viral with the aim of slowing down the spread of troublesome news in time.
In recent years, around 200 elections have been held around the world in which Facebook was challenged, for example in Brazil, India or two years ago in the United States. Facebook is now benefiting from this experience in the US presidential elections, those responsible are convinced and confident.
Protection or manipulation?
Facebook and Twitter intervene when users violate the rules of the platform. They often have to weigh and make decisions that overwhelm them – in real time!
Therefore, social media regularly faces charges of censorship or manipulation. It is forgotten that the algorithms of the two platforms always make a selection when they put our timeline or our news feed together and suppress the news in the process. Only when the rules are violated does the omission work as censorship.
