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Facebook set to clamp down on content with misleading or sensational health claims

  • Social media giant says it will take actions to reduce posts making assertions about ‘miracle cures’ or relating to bogus weight-loss pills

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Facebook says it has taken steps to reduce posts with exaggerated or sensational health claims. Photo: AFP
Reuters

Facebook said on Tuesday that it was taking steps to reduce promotion of products based on misleading health-related claims.

In a blog post, the social media company said it had made two updates last month to reduce posts with exaggerated or sensational health claims.

Facebook said it would take actions to reduce posts making assertions about a “miracle cure” and against the ones aimed to promote products or services on health-related claims, such as a pill for weight loss.

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Facebook and its peers are under growing pressure to rid their platforms of misinformation. Photo: AP
Facebook and its peers are under growing pressure to rid their platforms of misinformation. Photo: AP

The company and its peers around the world are under growing pressure to rid their platforms of fake news and misinformation, and the spread of misleading health claims were highlighted as a concern in some recent media reports.

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The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported that Facebook and YouTube were filled with “harmful information” about health treatments.

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