News Ban Fails to Impact Facebook Usage in Canada
Updated: Aug 26
Meta's decision to block news links in Canada has had little effect on Canadians' use of Facebook, according to data from independent tracking firms.
Despite facing criticism from the Canadian government, daily active users and time spent on the app have remained unchanged since the ban was implemented. The data supports Meta's argument that news holds little value for the company. The Online News Act, which requires internet giants to pay publishers for news content, has been deemed unworkable by Meta and Google. Meta aims to reduce news consumption and focus on lighter subjects like fashion and entertainment.
Meta's decision to block news links in Canada has not significantly impacted Facebook usage in the country, according to data from independent tracking firms. Daily active users and time spent on the app have remained relatively unchanged since the ban was implemented in August. This data supports Meta's claim that news holds little value for the company.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been trying to reduce the prevalence of news and civic content on its platforms in recent years. The company aims to promote lighter subjects such as fashion, entertainment and sports. This shift has resulted in a significant reduction in news consumption via social media. Even before the news ban in Canada, Facebook referrals to popular news sites in the country were already down by 35% year-over-year in July and 74% since 2020.
While Meta aims to reduce news consumption, its own transparency reports indicate that news remains popular on Facebook, at least in the United States. According to the most recent report, news websites accounted for 13 of the top 20 domains viewed on Facebook in the United States in the first quarter. However, Meta's other social platform, Instagram, does not enable links within individual user posts, making it less of a presence in the news environment.
Canadian government officials have accused Meta of removing news from its platforms at a time of heightened need in Canada, as wildfires force thousands of people from their homes. The government has described Meta's actions as brinkmanship, even as negotiations over the Online News Act continue behind the scenes. Specific rules for implementing the law are expected to be released by late December, after which platforms will be expected to finalize deals with publishers.
Meta's decision to block news links in Canada has had little impact on Facebook usage.
Daily active users and time spent on the app have remained unchanged since the ban.
The Online News Act, which requires internet giants to pay publishers for news content, is deemed unworkable by Meta and Google.
Source: Reuters
