Facebook Has Finally Put Its Controversial Trending Product Out Of Its Misery
What Trending lacked in usage it made up for in controversy, negative press coverage, and frustrations for Facebook.
The DC Cybersecurity Think Tank Caught Using Fake Twitter Accounts Has Lost Sponsors, And Its Shady Cofounder Is Gone
Following a BuzzFeed News investigation, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology cofounder James Scott has “voluntarily decided to step away” and a law firm will review claims about him.
How YouTube's "Super Chat" System Is Pushing Video Creators Toward More Extreme Content
During one livestream, someone using the screen name National Socialist spent $100 to display the message “WHITE PRIDE WORLD WIDE!”
A DC Think Tank Used Fake Social Media Accounts, A Bogus Expert, And Fancy Events To Reach The NSA, FBI, And White House
ICIT bills itself as "America's Cybersecurity Think Tank." But BuzzFeed News found it's running fake Twitter accounts and its top expert has questionable credentials.
A New Facebook Feature Shows Which Pro-Trump Facebook Pages Are Run From Overseas
The feature is called "Page History" but now it's gone.
This Former Tea Party Activist Is Teaching People To Spot Fake News
“I kept coming across people who I knew were smart people and sensitive people who were sharing fake stuff," says Felicia Cravens.
We're Tracking All The Rumors About Toronto Van Attack Suspect Alek Minassian
Here's your guide to what's true, false, and unverified about the 25-year-old man identified by officials Monday as the suspect who killed at least 10 people on a crowded Toronto street.
Sign Up For The Fake Newsletter — A Regular Update About Digital Deception
BuzzFeed News media editor Craig Silverman and reporter Jane Lytvynenko analyze news and research about misinformation, conspiracies, hoaxes, and fake news.
How To Spot A Deepfake Like The Barack Obama–Jordan Peele Video
This "deepfake" video starring Jordan Peele as Barack Obama shows how easy it's getting to create convincing audio and video fakes. Here's how to fight back.
How YouTube’s Channel Recommendations Push Users To The Fringe
Researchers followed YouTube's channel recommendations wherever they led and often found Alex Jones and other fringe channels. "Within the political communities, Alex Jones’ channel is one of the most recommended ones," they said.
Journalists Are Criticizing Facebook For Its Data Collection. At The Same Time, They Often Use It To Their Advantage.
The exposure of Cambridge Analytica's unauthorized use of Facebook data has also revealed how journalists and researchers have taken advantage of Facebook features and loopholes for years.
Secret Money From Robert Mercer Was Used To Run Ads Promoting Ted Cruz And Attacking Hillary Clinton
The ads show “how wealthy donors can affect our political discourse without us knowing about it," one expert told BuzzFeed News.
Soros-Linked NGOs Fell Victim To A Big, Sophisticated Undercover Operation. Hungary’s Prime Minister Has Benefited The Most.
Fake companies using fake websites, covert recordings made in European hotels, and anti-Soros stories leaked to pro-government media: Welcome to Hungary’s election campaign.
A Christian Publisher Was Running The Same Malicious Code That Newsweek Media Group Used For An Ad Fraud Scheme
Newsweek Media Group and Christian Media Corporation both have close ties to a controversial religious leader and the university he founded.
How A Video Of Snickers Bars Being Burned In A Pit Inspired A Viral Conspiracy Theory
The conspiracy is spreading fast on Facebook and can also be found on YouTube.
Cambridge Analytica Says It Won The Election For Trump. Here’s What It's Actually Talking About.
Cambridge Analytica provided "data acquisition" and other services to the Make America Number One PAC. Its targeted Facebook ads generated millions of views by aggressively attacking Hillary Clinton during the fall of 2016.
How Facebook Groups Are Being Exploited To Spread Misinformation, Plan Harassment, And Radicalize People
Mark Zuckerberg wants to get a billion people in “meaningful” Facebook groups. But to get there he’ll have to battle the spammers, hackers, and trolls who exploit and hijack groups to make money or sow chaos.
Newsweek Media Group Websites Ran Malicious Code That Experts Say Is Used To Commit Ad Fraud
The company said it is conducting an internal investigation “to identify the individuals responsible and will take the necessary action.”
Publishers Are Switching Domain Names To Try And Stay Ahead Of Facebook’s Algorithm Changes
Domain hopping is one way publishers are combatting declining traffic from Facebook while also staying one step ahead of advertising blacklists. How much longer will it work?
Newsweek Was Banned From A Major Reddit Community Due To Link Spamming
Influential Reddit accounts have been submitting Newsweek links at high volume, but the company says it does “not engage in any form of paid promotion on this platform.”