Facebook slammed over plans to close down major feature that will disappear forever at the end of the year
FACEBOOK owner Meta has been criticised over plans to shut down a major feature as the social network shifts its focus to video.
The huge change will affect millions of users in the UK, France and Germany.
Meta has announced that it's closing down Facebook News in early December.
The dedicated tab was launched as a way for users to find the latest stories from trusted publishers.
But the firm has decided to close the section, as well as ending an agreement to fund local news.
The Community News Project paid for more than 100 reporters in under-served areas across the UK.
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Mark Zuckerberg's right hand man Sir Nick Clegg spearheaded the project back in 2019, saying "Facebook is more than willing to partner with news publishers" and that " we absolutely recognise quality journalism is at the heart of how open societies function".
Users will still be able to share news articles as normal.
Industry experts said the move comes as "little surprise".
"Sadly, this latest decision comes as little surprise, considering the news blackouts we have seen Meta enforcing in Canada and Australia," said Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association.
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"Meta continues to exploit its dominant position, reaping the benefits of news content on their platforms without adequately compensating the publishers that invest in it."
Meta claims that news only makes up less than three per cent of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed.
"This is part of an ongoing effort to better align our investments to our products and services people value the most," the firm explained.
"As a company, we have to focus our time and resources on things people tell us they want to see more of on the platform, including short form video."
The company says it will honour existing agreements with news publishers until they expire.
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