Media outlets chase Facebook clicks; now the social media giant might destroy them

As with any toxic relationship, the possibility of a breakup sparks feelings of terror — and maybe a little bit of a relief.

That's the spot that Facebook has put the news business in. Last month, the social media behemoth announced it would once again alter its News Feed algorithm to show users even more posts from their friends and family, and a lot fewer from media outlets.

The move isn't all that surprising. Ever since the 2016 election, Facebook's been under siege for creating a habitat where fake news stories flourished. Their executives were dragged before Congress last year to testify about how they sold ads to Russians who wanted to influence the U.S. election, and so, in some ways, it's simply easier to get out of the news business altogether.

But for the many news outlets that have come to rely on Facebook funneling readers to their sites, the impact of a separation sounds catastrophic.

Read more: https://www.inlander.com/spokane/for-years-media-outlets-desperately-chased-the-clicks-promised-by-facebook-now-the-social-media-giant-threatens-to-destroy-them/Content?oid=7996874