From Nasdaq:

Meta Platforms Inc. announced it will remove Facebook News tab in bookmarks for U.S. and Australia users. The decision comes after doing the same in UK, France, and Germany. Facebook News was launched in 2019 with content deals for publishers but will be “depreciated” in April. The company aims to focus on user engagement over news content.

Meta Platforms Inc. emphasizes a shift towards focusing on products and services users value most, such as short form video, as opposed to news content. Usage of Facebook News in Australia and U.S. dropped by over 80% last year. The company states that news and political content are not the primary reason users visit Facebook and plans to align investments accordingly.

Despite removing Facebook News for U.S. and Australia, Meta Platforms Inc. assures existing agreements with publishers in Australia, France, and Germany will not be impacted. The company will not pursue new commercial deals for traditional news content and will not introduce new Facebook products specifically for news publishers in the future. The aim is to invest in products driving user engagement.

In 2019, Facebook News aimed to bring users closer to impactful stories. The move to depreciate the feature reflects a shift in focus towards user engagement and away from news content. Meta Platforms Inc. hopes to sustain quality journalism and strengthen democracy through their evolving platform.



Read more at Nasdaq: Meta To ‘deprecate’ Facebook News Tab In The U.S. And Australia