Facebook reduces the reach of misleading health claims

5. 9. 2019

Nutrition, fitness and health problems are very common topics on Facebook. Many social network users display a healthy lifestyle and want to work towards their goals through their profiles. This trend is being exploited by various companies that advertise miracle cures for weight loss, baldness and muscle gain, but unfortunately, many products are fraudulent and have no effect on health. Facebook wants its users to get accurate health information on their platform, and have therefore decided to modify the algorithm to minimize misleading content regarding health.

Facebook says that people do not like posts that contain sensationalism or spam, and with health-related content, this is often the case. That’s why Facebook has made two updates:

1. Posts with sensational or exaggerated health claims – Here Facebook considers whether the post is deceiving or has exaggerated content.
2. Posts that try to sell products or services based on health claims – In this case, Facebook evaluates whether the post promotes medication or pills that, for example, miraculously cause weight loss.

Source: Jezebel.com

When Facebook recognizes phrases in posts or advertisements that include a sensational health claim promise, those posts will appear farther down in the News Feed, and if these posts are sponsored, Facebook will reduce the reach of their advertising. If the user remedies the issue and stops sharing misleading content, their posts will be displayed by Facebook without restriction.

Facebook does not want businesses and advertisers to be afraid to publish health-related content because of this change. If you respect all community policies and your content is true and not misleading, your posts will not be affected.

Facebook made a similar update to the algorithm concerning clickbait in May, where it successfully reduced the poor quality of this type of content and changed the algorithm for sorting videos.

I am passionate about the world of technology and online marketing. In the past, I have worked for several years on campus as a teacher at marketing and hotel management departments. Currently, I work with various experts as an online marketing consultant at international level between Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic. I specialize in e-commerce, social media and website development. In my spare time you will meet me in the nature immersed in the beauty of three triathlon disciplines. At Newsfeed I will share with you the latest news from the diverse world of social media.

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