Selena Gomez slams FB for allowing spread of misinformation about COVID-19, vaccines
Selena Gomez at the premiere of “Dolittle” in Westwood, California (Image: AFP/Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer)
Selena Gomez has criticized Facebook for allowing the spread of misinformation on COVID-19 and vaccines on its platform.
The actress-singer called out the social media giant on her Twitter page yesterday, Dec. 30, following a BBC News interview with Imi Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Ahmed noted that despite reporting “1,000 bits” of false information about COVID-19 through the platform’s own system, only 5% of them were ultimately taken down.
“Social media companies say that they’re doing their utmost,” he stressed, “but in reality, they’re doing absolutely nothing.”
Gomez echoed his sentiments while sharing a snippet of the interview on her own profile.
“Scientific disinformation has and will cost lives,” she stated. “@Facebook said they don’t allow lies about COVID and vaccines to be spread on their platforms.”
Article continues after this advertisementScientific disinformation has and will cost lives. @Facebook said they don’t allow lies about COVID and vaccines to be spread on their platforms. So how come all of this is still happening? Facebook is going to be responsible for thousands of deaths if they don’t take action now! https://t.co/IAtDpNT5Tt
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) December 30, 2020
“So how come all of this is still happening?” Gomez asked. “Facebook is going to be responsible for thousands of deaths if they don’t take action now!”
Prior to her post on Twitter, Gomez previously reached out to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The artist sent a private message to the two, which she also shared on her Instagram Stories back in September, as per Variety.
“It’s been a while since we sat down. We have a serious problem. Facebook and Instagram are being used to spread hate, misinformation, racism and bigotry,” Gomez told them. Facebook acquired the image-sharing platform Instagram back in 2012 for $1 billion.
At the time, Gomez stressed the importance of the US elections amid the spread of false information.
“We cannot afford to have misinformation about voting,” she told the two executives. “There has to be fact-checking and accountability.” /ra
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