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Facebook social media marketing didn’t bring Trump victory, says Zuckerberg

| November 14, 2016

The creator of the social network is working hard to fight growing accusations of its role in the election results.

Amidst a rapidly rising body of criticism against Facebook social media marketing, Mark Zuckerberg insists the network isn’t to blame for Donald Trump’s victory. Critics claim that viral fake pro-Trump news stories on Facebook led to the Republican’s election win.

Zuckerberg has responded quite forcefully, saying that he feels the accusation is a “pretty crazy idea.”

Speaking onstage at a recent conference, Zuckerberg addressed the thought that Facebook social media marketing contributed to Donald Trump’s election. “Personally,” he said, “I think the idea that fake news on Facebook, which is a very small amount of the content, influenced the election in any way—I think is a pretty crazy idea. Voters make decisions based on their lived experience.”

Zuckerberg also went on to ask “Why would you think there would be fake news on one side and not the other?”

That has not assuaged the critics insisting Facebook social media marketing doesn’t properly filter fake news.

Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook Social Media MarketingMany claim that as the largest social media platform worldwide, viral hoax news posts shared there may have helped Trump to win. The reason, say many, is that Facebook either refuses or is not able to contain the spread of those fake news articles.

Moreover, BuzzFeed News conducted an investigation earlier in 2016 which examined the most right-wing extremely partisan publications published by Facebook pages. They determined that 38 percent of the news shared by those sources was misinformation. That said, when examining the same type of page on the left-wing side, misinformation occurred considerably less: 20 percent of the time.

Those figures may not sound too problematic, but BuzzFeed News also identified another trend with this form of Facebook social media marketing. The stories with the lowest accuracy were the ones BuzzFeed found to generate the largest number of shares and reactions (such as Likes). Inaccurate stories on Facebook pages greatly outperformed publications shared on Facebook pages from more mainstream political news sites. Over the last few months, a rash of hoax news sites were created in order to take advantage of this trend.

Mobile phone use behind the wheel should draw family shame, says UK PM May

| November 11, 2016

Theresa May is encouraging the public to shame friends and family practicing this distracted driving.

According to British Prime Minister Theresa May, drivers taking part in mobile phone use should be shamed by family and friends. She equated the danger of smartphone use behind the wheel to drunk driving. Her goal is to make the practice socially unacceptable in order to make roads safer.

Prime Minister May’s comments are not without support from scientific study from many countries.

Many governments have been watching growing lists of statistics being added to other evidence about mobile phone use by drivers. In many regions of the world, using a smartphone – whether talking, texting or for some other purpose – causes distraction that is the same or more dangerous than driving drunk.

Mobile phone use - Shame On YouPM May called for people to make this practice socially unacceptable in order to save lives on U.K. roads. She wants people to shame their friends and family who would use their mobile devices while they drive.

This represents the first time her government has addressed mobile phone use distracting drivers.

The statement arrived at a time when the number of crashes – some of which included fatalities – are rising in the country due to distracted drivers using mobile phones. She addressed drivers of cars, trucks and every other type of vehicle. She also stated that there is an upcoming review that will be looking to stiffen the penalties for dangerous driving if appropriate.

The May government also revealed more details with regards to its own intentions for boosting distracted driving penalties. They are aiming to set an immediate six point penalty to anyone caught using a mobile phone while operating a car or other vehicle. Moreover, this penalty will not allow for exceptions or exemptions. Therefore, first-time offenders and young drivers will not be let off the hook.

When May spoke of mobile phone use by drivers behind the wheel, she said that public awareness of the dangers are key. “Just as we have made it socially unacceptable to drink and drive, so we need to do the same with using a mobile phone while driving.”