Snapchat Clamping Down On Clickbait And Fake News

Although it didn’t receive the same amount of criticism as Facebook and other social media companies with regards to fake news, Snapchat is still implementing new rules when it comes to the content that shows up on its Discovery platform. Now, the hugely popular social media platform is fighting against clickbait and fake news.

Clickbait content has been on the rise for years, with publications like Buzzfeed completely decimating even major media companies like Times and The Wall Street Journal in terms of simple online traction. In order to compete, big news companies have also taken to blurring the lines, which has Snapchat worried. As a result, it is now making changes to its guidelines that target certain habits it deems inappropriate, The New York Times reports.

Some of the things that are on the list include photos or headlines that have nothing to do with the content, using risqué photos in order to attract views, and using inappropriate words that might not be suitable for minors. With Snapchat being particularly popular among pre-teens, it does make sense to tone the language down a bit in order to reflect certain standards with regards to interaction with younger users.

In addition, no article with links to fake news websites will be allowed to appear on the Discovery platform. Snapchat wants publishers to fact check everything that they are putting up to ensure that the information being presented are accurate. According to the company’s spokesperson, Rachel Racusen, the new rules are meant to “empower our editorial partners to do their part to keep Snapchat an informative, factual and safe environment for everyone.”

The new rules took effect on Monday, January 23rd, PC Mag reports, and it would seem that publishers are planning on going along with the changes. After all, in order to actually become part of Discovery, media organizations needed to guarantee that their content would generate considerable revenue at a minimum of $500,000 per year.