Stuff quits Facebook due to "ethical reasons"

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Zepanda66

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#272622 6-Jul-2020 12:41

Not sure if this is the right forum for this but according to a leaked internal memo stuff is quitting facebook. "Effective immediately"

A leaked internal communication from Stuff’s deputy editor shows the country’s largest news organisation launching an extraordinary challenge to the biggest social media platform in the world. In “ceasing all activity” on Facebook and its partner networks, the site’s reproach is likely to make waves around the world.

“Effective immediately, Stuff is trialling ceasing all activity on Facebook-owned networks. This experiment applies to all Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts across our entire group,” announces the email.

The decision had been taken for ethical reasons, the memo explained, with global controversy swelling over the platform leading to advertisers choosing to boycott the platform.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/06-07-2020/nz-news-giant-stuff-quits-facebook-until-further-notice-leaked-internal-memo/

Their last post on facebook (as of right now) was 5 hours ago.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#2517912 6-Jul-2020 12:43

Good. I have unpublished the Geekzone page on Facebook too and stopped pushing news items to that platform.

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msukiwi

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#2517913 6-Jul-2020 12:46

They (Stuff) have ethics?

Boy, I for one didn't know that!

Rikkitic

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#2517915 6-Jul-2020 12:51

msukiwi:

They (Stuff) have ethics?

Boy, I for one didn't know that!

Stuff is under new ownership. Anything is possible.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

frankv

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#2517917 6-Jul-2020 12:52

The decision had been taken for ethical reasons, the memo explained, with global controversy swelling over the platform leading to advertisers choosing to boycott the platform.

These would be the ethics that cause you to feel bad when you make less money because you get less advertising, I guess.

sidefx

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#2517918 6-Jul-2020 12:55

msukiwi:

They (Stuff) have ethics?

Boy, I for one didn't know that!

They certainly have more than Facebook... but then there are very few entities that have less I think.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Electric Kiwi | Sharesies
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Rikkitic

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#2517921 6-Jul-2020 13:19

I just paid Stuff a visit for the first time in a very long time and I have to say I am impressed. Site looks good, no obvious clickbait, content that I read was serious and sober in tone. Overall it seems much better than the last time I checked it. I will come back again.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

alasta

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#2517928 6-Jul-2020 13:49

Good on them - it's a risky move but ethically the right thing to do. Hopefully the recent global movement against Facebook will continue to snowball.

Senecio

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#2517930 6-Jul-2020 14:01

I wish them all the best. its a bold move and it may not pay off unless other, larger media outlets follow suit.

JWR

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#2517972 6-Jul-2020 14:14

I don't believe any news company can be credible while they are in Facebook's pocket.

Maybe Sutff News can become something worthwhile.

dafman

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#2518011 6-Jul-2020 14:54

We subscribe to the UK Guardian and have decided to donate $10 per month to the new Stuff to support the NZ owners.

And good on them for taking a stand against Facebook!

... and the refresh of the Stuff site looks great, makes NZHerald site feel even more tired.

GSManiac

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#2518020 6-Jul-2020 15:21

dafman:

... and the refresh of the Stuff site looks great, makes NZHerald site feel even more tired.

Interesting. I think it looks ghastly. Too white. Much prefer the old look.

networkn

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#2518044 6-Jul-2020 15:43

This is how you get a giant to pay attention, start starving them of their financial rewards for their bad behaviour. They might be following in the footsteps of some huge organizations who will be more than the rounding errors that Stuff generates in their revenue, but as more companies do it, the momentum will build and Facebook will be forced to review it's behaviour if they want to survive.

GSManiac

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#2518091 6-Jul-2020 16:05

Facebook / Zuckerberg has basically come out saying they don’t care and they won’t change their ways. The best thing for FB would be to ditch MZ imo.

Oblivian

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#2518132 6-Jul-2020 17:56

Hopefully they fix their publishing API/App at the same time!

Not only does it miss out on posting 'breaking news' articles as they happen. With up to 2 days delay, It doesn't handle main off-FB article edits and uses it as an excuse to publish with current timestamp as new

They have a habit of posting 'avoid this bottleneck traffic' after a crash etc, or saying 1 injured etc. Only to edit it and change to x deaths as a result. But the old header sticks and goes out some 3hrs later as a current item.

Dingbatt

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#2518136 6-Jul-2020 18:10

I wonder how they are going to fill their pages without stories about “something breaking the internet” or “people being outraged about xxx” without Facebook as a source.

I guess there’s still Twitter. But I would have thought it is beset by the same maladies as Facebook.

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