Our next update on our 2018 focus to make sure Facebook isn't just fun but also good for your well-being and for society...
We're making a series of updates to show more high quality, trusted news. Last week we made an update to show more news from sources that are broadly trusted across our community. Today our next update is to promote news from local sources.
People consistently tell us they want to see more local news on Facebook. Local news helps us understand the issues that matter in our communities and affect our lives. Research suggests that reading local news is directly correlated with civic engagement. People who know what's happening around them are more likely to get involved and help make a difference.
When I traveled around the country last year, one theme people kept telling me is how much we all have in common if we can get past some of the most divisive national issues. Many people told me they thought that if we could turn down the temperature on the more divisive issues and instead focus on concrete local issues, then we'd all make more progress together.
Starting today, we're going to show more stories from news sources in your local town or city. If you follow a local publisher or if someone shares a local story, it may show up higher in News Feed. We're starting this first in the US, and our goal is to expand to more countries this year.
Local news helps build community -- both on and offline. It's an important part of making sure the time we all spend on Facebook is valuable. I'm looking forward to sharing more updates soon.
Neal Gorenflo
Good idea Mark. This is the direction my nonprofit advocates for as demonstrated by our new book, "Sharing Cities: Activating the Urban Commons." We're offering a free PDF copy to the entire Facebook community. You can get a free copy and learn more about the book here: https://
3 yrsReport
Kristin Robinson
How can it be that I completed your survey about not wanting to see ads at all, and suddenly I am being inundated with ads? When I go to manage ad preferences, there is no option for turning off all ads. I thought you were going to fix this, but instead it appears that you took an opportunity to flood anyone at all that responded.
3 yrsReport
Shawn Eagan
Dear Mark, Could you build a high rise apt building to supply housing to your employees so that they don’t displace the locals and lead to even more homelessness.
3 yrsReport
Chambers Jackie
Lies your censoring the republicans. Your a fraud who is trying to use this platform for your own political beliefs. Its not right what your doing. DML and Hannity i hope they get together and sue you for everything you got. You cant censor people its not right. Make your own facebook and put your own beliefs on your own page. Leave our news groups alone. You know how thing can change in a blink of am eye right. Do you know how boycotting works just ask the NFL you dont want that neither does anyone else but its getting out of hand. Leave us alone and to our own opinions and thoughts. Sean Hannity Fox News amd DML news are real news not russian outsiders so why are you messing with them. Just stop or all your fans will turn on facebook and i know you think your so rich we cant hurt your pocket. Well guess what thats what the NFL thought. Plus you will push someone to come up with a better platform then yours then you will become the next myspace ya that other social media that is history now.
3 yrsReport
Sue Serpone
Facebook healthy? I don't consider this to ring true after news today about Cambridge. None of us are safe from any of the social platforms. Passing the buck to others to be blamed does not meet the smell test.
3 yrsReport
Jerry Kadlechik
This is about the 3rd or 4th time I have said this., but why in hell don’t you quit being so DAMN cheap & establish a TOLL FREE phone number. You have millions of dollars & yet won’t have a toll free number. My wife & I have had many problems over a few years, that we would like to talk with a Facebook representative about them, which would certainly make our problems easier to solve. But because you won’t break down & spend some of your millions, we can’t do this.
3 yrsReport
Vanessa Webb
I want the news that I like most, whether international, national etc. Stop acting like you're doing us a favor by switching it to local. I didn't ask you to make this decision for me. Sometimes you come off as tyrant, wanting to censor all on this site.
3 yrsReport
Bill Chung
Isn't this common knowledge? People tend to share or like news articles that are close to their home. Facebook should focus on identifying facts and opinions from news sources.
3 yrsReport
Angelique Rodriguez
Rhonda Schaefer if we can find a way to share our communicator stories on Facebook. This maybe considered news. New StarTrack goal for me and Megan! Lol!
3 yrsReport
Mark Mueller
Would be nice to get actual most recent posts on my newsfeed instead of what Facebook thinks are my top stories, which have been top stories a few days prior but aren't today!
3 yrsReport
Anita Sheffield
I would appreciate real news not a repeat of a repeat of a repeat. I know there is so much more than tweets, rumors, fake news. How about our military still in arms way, daily climate change, beautiful wildlife being poached to extinction? Even better...real reporter's reporting real stories! You know like the old days, real reporting not just a repeat of the last news segment. There is so much more!
3 yrsReport
Jon Nicosia
“Many people told me they thought that if we could turn down the temperature on the more divisive issues and instead focus on concrete local issues, then we'd all make more progress together.”
Translation: I’m getting rid of conservative content on Facebook
Translation: I’m getting rid of conservative content on Facebook
3 yrsReport
Noor Pamiri
Who decided what is "trusted"? Some of the biggest fake news of history have been spread by big corporate media houses.
This "trust-determin
Discouraging such local initiatives, and favoring big-sounding corporations, would mean the death of dissent and ultimately lead to undoing the liberating impact of internet and social media.
This "trust-determin
Discouraging such local initiatives, and favoring big-sounding corporations, would mean the death of dissent and ultimately lead to undoing the liberating impact of internet and social media.
3 yrsReport
Geoff Desreumaux
What about good and valued niche content with a global reach? I think your users care about this too! I’m sure you could teach the algorithm to serve this organically to the right people (because it’s not about the dollars, right Mark?)
3 yrsReport
Henry Carver
Would FB please stop changing my newsfeed from "most recent" to "top stories." That's someone's opinion of what the top stories should be.
3 yrsReport
Scott Ayres
How about just show us posts from the Pages we Like.. pretty easy.. stop censoring..
3 yrsReport
Karlene Bresson Blaser
My concern with concentrating on local news is the "bubble effect"! The trend I see is that people who have never left their "bubble" tend to be closed minded to the ideas and needs of the rest of the country and the world!
3 yrsReport
Steve Seca Sexton
Hi Mark ..
I'm pretty sure that some kind of mind altering radio-waves are secretly pumped out of our social media devices to make people do and say crazy things ! this is the only logical reason why apparently " normal people " only use Facebook and Twitter to insult , bully , belittle , racially abuse and post violent threats to anyone who has a different opinion or supports a different political party to them !
" when you make people afraid of each other you isolate common sense " ...
Social media was supposed to bring us closer together but it's pulling us further apart !
News medias most take a large proportion of the blame for causing civil unrest and stirring up hatred between the many different countries and faiths around the world and we must hope and pray that one day common sense and fair reporting will be undertaken by all news medias ........
I'm pretty sure that some kind of mind altering radio-waves are secretly pumped out of our social media devices to make people do and say crazy things ! this is the only logical reason why apparently " normal people " only use Facebook and Twitter to insult , bully , belittle , racially abuse and post violent threats to anyone who has a different opinion or supports a different political party to them !
" when you make people afraid of each other you isolate common sense " ...
Social media was supposed to bring us closer together but it's pulling us further apart !
News medias most take a large proportion of the blame for causing civil unrest and stirring up hatred between the many different countries and faiths around the world and we must hope and pray that one day common sense and fair reporting will be undertaken by all news medias ........
3 yrsReport
Matt Navarra
It would be useful if you added a shortcut or feature to show us top local news sources for our area that we might want to Like or Follow. 👍
3 yrsReport
Matthew Guzman
I don’t trust anyone to limit my sources of info no matter how altruistic your intentions are. This is a hinderance to free speech and an attack on our civil liberties. There are plenty of fact checking sources people can use to rule out false info. Instead of controlling what content people can see, u should refer us to places where we can use the tools needed to navigate through all the BS of the internet. I don’t lend credence to anyone to tell me what is and is not fake news. Shame on you, Mark. U need to do better than this Orwellian tactic.
3 yrsReport
Eva Arredondo Moore
As usual you are working on what's important. Thank you Mark for changing the focus this year to improving FB for us all and helping it to become more of a community that can be trusted. It won't happen over night, but the more trustworthy news we get on here the better for everyone, especially local news that connects us to those immediately around us.
3 yrsReport
Juan Emilio Armaza Ortiz
Any change or innovation, will bring more opportunities and facebook, is the most indicated by the millions who share their plans, for the benefit of their followers. Good luck and congratulations
3 yrsReport
Hadid Alam
Congratulations
3 yrsReport
Monis Bukhari
Wonderful update Mark, really wonderful.
Please, keep in mind the local media in exile, I’m afraid that this new update will not recognize the media in exile as a local media. There’s so many places in this world where it’s local media got exiled because of political and violence issues. Those have no platforms to use, sometimes; but Facebook.
Please, keep in mind the local media in exile, I’m afraid that this new update will not recognize the media in exile as a local media. There’s so many places in this world where it’s local media got exiled because of political and violence issues. Those have no platforms to use, sometimes; but Facebook.
3 yrsReport
David Impey
Dear Mark, can you please buy a big vacant lot for the homeless .And construct several hundred tough sheds - supplied with garbage and out houses. With shower facilities and laundry. Then put your name to that -that's a good use of money !
3 yrsReport
Bette Chaykowsky
Mr. Mark Zuckerberg. I am a senior, because of being a former pageant judge, director, I have met thousands of young ladies, parents, judges, relatives, and made friends with so many!!! Now, because of you, I can keep in touch with some in various states!!! Happy for me! I now am a volunteer teacher of culinary arts and volunteer in office, as well, in the senior program at Lone Star College here in Texas!!! Just want you to know how grateful to you for me to have a venue to check whenever I want, to get news, info of friends, etc.!!!! Yes, I said grateful but thankful, too!!! 👏👏❤️❤️🌹🌹
3 yrsReport
Manish Daga
He posts something which takes atleast 5 mins to read, understand, relate & then think of a reply and there we have people who have already typed something within 30 secs. !!
Godspeed in true sense of the word !!
Godspeed in true sense of the word !!
3 yrsReport
Dale Albus Elliott
I think your reporting system needs looking at first , oh and you're foolish for selling your company now look at the mess its in , why's animal cruelty allowed on Facebook? Very disappointing
3 yrsReport
