You know how it’s virtually impossible to physically stop a bullet mid-flight? Or how even union-wide protests fail to achieve the desired results despite holding them amidst the proximity of the offending parties? It’s interesting, to say the least, despite various claims (and subsequent proofs) that aim to detract it, Facebook is still testing new options that could potentially enhance the type of behaviors that have already given it so much flak.

User @AkramAlodini shared a fairly new image of an ongoing Facebook test that would allow users to essentially “Spam-post” to multiple groups at once. Likewise, a screenshot shared by Matt Navarra highlights the new option that would enable Facebook users to cross-post to numerous groups that they’re a member of. In the most basic sense, this would facilitate simplified mass-sharing on Facebook, allowing users to share to more groups more often, leading to more consistent buzz and discussion.

Butting Heads

With a move that seemingly encourages more ‘promotional’ or ‘headliner’ behaviors, Facebook seems to be going against itself as one of its family platforms, WhatsApp, and decided to limit certain message-sharing functions just last year.

In January of 2020, WhatsApp set the limit for sharing messages to 5 times per message in hopes of stemming the flow of misinformation, mainly regarding COVID conspiracies, within its channels. On top of that, WhatsApp later implemented stricter message-forwarding protocols to limit its network’s capacity to misuse.

As WhatsApp puts it:

“Since putting into place the new limit, globally, there has been a 70% reduction in the number of highly forwarded messages sent on WhatsApp. This change is helping keep WhatsApp a place for personal and private conversations.”

So the scenario now is that WhatsApp just made a statement that it will not tolerate its network being used, in any capacity, as an avenue for the spread of misinformation. Facebook, on the other hand, decided to test out functionality that insinuates that kind of behavior. Don’t worry if you think it sounds highly conflicting because it is.

Legendary Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens, in verbatim, states that Facebook will “choose to optimize for its own interests, like making more money, over the public good.” If that wasn’t enough of a jarring revelation, then we don’t know what is.

The Wrap

Let’s try and look at the positives of this new functionality. For one thing, being able to share with multiple groups at once does offer higher engagement. As a manager, this provides you higher levels of efficiency, able to share potentially relevant content or news either to more people for higher exposure or to a carefully selected group as a more targeted delivery.

Given what we know about WhatsApp, it’s just an odd test for Facebook to conduct. Nonetheless, it’s doing tests, and the best we can do for now is wait and see just what Facebook intends to do. As events continue to play out, it’s also darkly entertaining to see Facebook conflicting with its channel. It does beg the question of “is Facebook that keen on just getting the green?”

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Sources

https://bit.ly/3Fm7DJX