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Facebook’s approved fact-checker PolitiFact rated a graphic from the Media Research Center as “FALSE,” even though the image merely shared a chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The Media Research Center posted a graphic taken from the CDC which claimed that there are fewer than 2,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 associated hospitalizations. PolitiFact flagged the post but acknowledged that “while the Media Research Center copied the CDC data accurately, it failed to include a very important CDC-issued disclaimer.” The disclaimer clarified that the data "represents approximately 10% of the US population." Fact-checked posts lose exposure on Facebook feeds as they are negatively affected by the platform's algorithm. According to Facebook, users fail to click through a fact-check interstitial to see the post 95% of the time. Instagram, owned by Facebook, likely sees a similar effect.

 

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