Social media posts are a clear reflection of Facebook’s actions to block news sites that had published a critical column by Dave Kendall that was aimed at Facebook.
Facebook issued an apology yesterday after mistakenly blocking articles from the Kansas Reflector. However, the social media platform has now gone on to block all links to two other news sites that republished a column from the Kansas Reflector.
Facebook removed posts linking to independent journalist Marisa Kabas’ blog, The Handbasket, and News From The States, a platform that shares stories and columns from States Newsroom affiliates, including Kansas Reflector.
Facebook reinstated the posts approximately three hours after they were initially removed.
According to a phone call with Facebook spokesman Andy Stone on Friday, the removal of those posts, as well as all the posts from Kansas Reflector the day before, was attributed to a “mistaken security issue that popped up.” Stone did not provide any further details about how the mistake occurred and stated that no additional explanation would be given.
On Thursday, Facebook blocked Kansas Reflector from sharing an opinion column written by Dave Kendall regarding his efforts to promote a documentary on climate change in the Midwest. The column expresses criticism towards Facebook while highlighting the effectiveness of local media as a source of information. Furthermore, Facebook proceeded to remove posts from its platform that contained links to articles on the Kansas Reflector website.
Facebook users were informed that the links posed a cybersecurity risk, despite the fact that the website itself is safe and secure. After approximately seven hours, Facebook reinstated the majority of the posts that contained links to Kansas Reflector stories. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Stone issued an apology on Thursday.
However, Facebook continued to prohibit the sharing of the Kendall column on any website.
Kabas first reported on the actions taken by Facebook on Thursday, and subsequently republished Kendall’s column on Friday.
Kansas Reflector tried to share the Kendall column from both The Handbasket and News From The States on Facebook. However, Facebook rejected the post twice, deeming it a potential violation of its community standards.
Facebook swiftly took down posts that contained links to either website, replicating the action it had taken against Kansas Reflector the previous day. In its notifications to users, the social media platform once again falsely cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for removing their posts.
According to Stone, the problem was associated with domains rather than the content of the column.
According to Stone, the decision had no relation to the content or the story written by the journalists.
According to Stone, the security issue that arose was linked to multiple domains, including the Kansas Reflector, News From The States, and The Handbasket. He clarified that the problem was not specific to this particular story, but rather existed at the domain level.
According to Stone, individuals will not be contacted by Facebook regarding the error.
He confidently stated, “You will take care of it.”
He chose not to comment on whether other news outlets should worry about the type of content they share on Facebook.
Kansas Reflector has been an active publisher since 2020, sharing over 6,000 news stories and opinion columns. Through various social media platforms, including Facebook, they have been able to reach a substantial audience of 12,000 followers.
By Friday night, Facebook had started allowing users to share Kendall’s column.
Kabas expressed deep concern over Meta’s blatant attempt to censor the press. He found it astonishing that a tech giant like Meta would struggle to handle even the slightest bit of criticism, particularly when it comes to such a crucial matter as climate change. However, Kabas remains optimistic, knowing that there are numerous other channels of communication available and that Meta won’t be able to silence the issue. Proudly standing with the Kansas Reflector and other nonprofit and independent news outlets, Kabas is determined to occupy the space and ensure their voices are heard.
Phyllis Zorn, a reporter from the Marion County Record, became aware of the actions taken by Facebook. Last summer, the police conducted a raid on her newspaper, falsely accusing her of a crime for simply verifying public records.
Zorn confidently stated, “I can recognize a vendetta when I see one.”
On his personal Facebook page, Kendall highlighted the fact that Facebook was sending him “mixed messages.”
He received notifications from the platform that said, “Great job on maintaining the momentum!” and “Your content is still attracting attention.”
In a recent post, Kendall expressed frustration over the platform’s decision to block access to her Kansas Reflector piece while simultaneously showing support. She highlighted this contradictory behavior, emphasizing the irony of the situation.
The Kansas City Star recently published an editorial discussing the removal of Kansas Reflector links by Facebook. The editorial shed light on the growing distrust surrounding the social media platform, which has become a breeding ground for rampant disinformation.
The editorial board emphasized the importance of responsible and verifiable news, urging readers to visit the official websites of their preferred news organizations rather than relying on social media as an intermediary. They encouraged readers to directly access the sources they trust and, if possible, support them by purchasing subscriptions. By doing so, individuals can ensure that they are receiving accurate and reliable information while also supporting the sustainability of quality journalism.
“We won’t be sharing this editorial on our own Facebook page, just to be safe,” the editorial board emphasized.
Facebook has issued an apology for blocking the Kansas Reflector and has since extended its crackdown to other news sites. This incident has raised concerns about the platform’s approach to content moderation and its impact on the freedom of the press. The Kansas Reflector, like many other news outlets, relies on Facebook as a crucial platform for reaching its audience. The blocking of the Kansas Reflector has sparked a larger conversation about the power and responsibility of social media giants in shaping the flow of information. It remains to be seen how Facebook will address these concerns and ensure a fair and unbiased approach to content moderation moving forward.
