Meta's recent decision to abandon professional factchecking on Facebook has sparked concerns about potential radicalisation of older users in the UK, as experts warn the platform's new approach could make it harder to combat misinformation.
The announcement by Mark Zuckerberg that Meta will replace professional factcheckers with a crowdsourced system has raised alarms, particularly given Facebook's popularity among older demographics. According to Ofcom, Facebook remains the main social media platform for 48% of users, with particularly strong usage among older age groups.
Dr Sara Wilford from De Montfort University, who leads research on middle-aged extremism, called the move "a retrograde step" that poses serious risks. She noted that Facebook's structure of closed groups and silos makes crowdsourced moderation less effective compared to other platforms.
The change comes amid growing evidence of older adults' vulnerability to online radicalisation. A Guardian analysis of recent unrest in England found that 35% of defendants were in their 40s or older, contrasting with previous patterns of youth-dominated civil disturbances.
Hope not Hate, an anti-extremism campaign group, expressed concern that the policy shift could lead to the return of banned far-right figures and groups to the platform. Before their removal, some extremist groups had amassed millions of followers on Facebook, surpassing major political parties in reach. As Europe approaches crucial parliamentary elections, there is an increasing trend of far-right groups exploiting new technologies, such as AI, to spread disinformation, which could be exacerbated by Meta's policy changes.
Research indicates older Facebook users may be particularly susceptible to misinformation due to several factors, including less familiarity with digital verification techniques and greater trust in content that resembles traditional news formats.
Dr Natalie-Anne Hall, a lecturer at Cardiff University, warned that Meta's new position "will only serve to embolden the misplaced sense of victimhood among those with antiprogressive views that research has shown feeds into radicalisation."
The timing of this policy change has heightened concerns, coming after several high-profile cases of older individuals being radicalised online before committing extremist acts. Local authorities have already been working to address misinformation in community groups, but experts suggest Meta's latest move could undermine these efforts.