Facebook is adding new rules aimed at slowing the spread of misinformation and other harmful content on its groups.
From now on, if a group is removed for violating Facebook policies its members and admins will temporarily be unable to create any new groups.
If the group has no moderators, it will be archived. Facebook will not include any health-related groups in its recommendations.
Facebook groups have been blamed for spreading misinformation, especially when Facebook’s recommendations algorithm promotes it.
The company’s new rules expand existing efforts to monitor it and administrators have already been banned from creating a new group similar to a banned group, for example.
Some new policies encourage more active management of collections. If officials step down, they can invite members to take their place; If no one does, Facebook will apparently suggest admin roles for members, then archive the group if that fails.
Also, if group members commit a violation of community standards, moderators will have to disapprove all of their posts for 30 days. If moderators repeatedly approve posts that violate Facebook’s guidelines, Facebook will remove the group.
The health guidelines take a broader approach by focusing on an entire category of content, not specific rule-breaking behavior.
Facebook says that while groups can be a “positive space to give and receive support during difficult life circumstances… it is critical that people get their health information from trusted sources.”
The company has tried to limit the spread of counter-content and misinformation about the Corona virus through a number of methods, including adding information from Facebook itself. To posts discussing COVID-19 and place banners on related pages.
Facebook also says it continues to restrict content associated with groups and other organizations linked to violence.
Groups discussing potential violence will be removed, and offending content will soon be removed from the News Feed.
