News
Meta shift from fact-checking to crowdsourcing spotlights competing approaches in fight against misinformation and hate speech
Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University
Meta’s decision to change its content moderation policies by replacing centralized fact-checking teams with user-generated community labeling has stirred up a storm of reactions. But taken at face value, the changes raise the question of the effectiveness of Meta’s old policy, fact-checking, and its new one, community comments.
With billions of people worldwide accessing their services, platforms such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram have a responsibility to ensure that users are not harmed by consumer fraud, hate speech, misinformation or other online ills. Given the scale of this problem, combating online harms is a serious societal challenge. Content moderation plays a role in addressing these online harms.
Moderating content involves three steps. The first is scanning online content – typically, social media posts – to detect potentially harmful words or images. The second is assessing whether the flagged content violates the law or the platform’s terms of service. The third is intervening in some way. Interventions include removing posts, adding warning labels to posts, and diminishing how much a post can be seen or shared.
Content moderation can range from user-driven moderation models on community-based platforms such as Wikipedia to centralized content moderation models such as those used by Instagram. Research shows that both approaches are a mixed bag.
Does fact-checking work?
Meta’s previous content moderation policy relied on third-party fact-checking organizations, which brought problematic content to the attention of Meta staff. Meta’s U.S. fact-checking organizations were AFP USA, Check Your Fact, Factcheck.org, Lead Stories, PolitiFact, Science Feedback, Reuters Fact Check, TelevisaUnivision, The Dispatch and USA TODAY.
Fact-checking relies on impartial expert review. Research shows that it can reduce the effects of misinformation but is not a cure-all. Also, fact-checking’s effectiveness depends on whether users perceive the role of fact-checkers and the nature of fact-checking organizations as trustworthy.
Crowdsourced content moderation
In his announcement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted that content moderation at Meta would shift to a community notes model similar to X, formerly Twitter. X’s community notes is a crowdsourced fact-checking approach that allows users to write notes to inform others about potentially misleading posts.
Studies are mixed on the effectiveness of X-style content moderation efforts. A large-scale study found little evidence that the introduction of community notes significantly reduced engagement with misleading tweets on X. Rather, it appears that such crowd-based efforts might be too slow to effectively reduce engagement with misinformation in the early and most viral stage of its spread.
There have been some successes from quality certifications and badges on platforms. However, community-provided labels might not be effective in reducing engagement with misinformation, especially when they’re not accompanied by appropriate training about labeling for a platform’s users. Research also shows that X’s Community Notes is subject to partisan bias.
Crowdsourced initiatives such as the community-edited online reference Wikipedia depend on peer feedback and rely on having a robust system of contributors. As I have written before, a Wikipedia-style model needs strong mechanisms of community governance to ensure that individual volunteers follow consistent guidelines when they authenticate and fact-check posts. People could game the system in a coordinated manner and up-vote interesting and compelling but unverified content. https://www.youtube.com/embed/HsV6DHmC8UA?wmode=transparent&start=0 Misinformation researcher Renée DiResta analyzes Meta’s change in content moderation policy.
Content moderation and consumer harms
A safe and trustworthy online space is akin to a public good, but without motivated people willing to invest effort for the greater common good, the overall user experience could suffer.
Algorithms on social media platforms aim to maximize engagement. However, given that policies that encourage engagement can also result in harm, content moderation also plays a role in consumer safety and product liability.
This aspect of content moderation has implications for businesses that either use Meta for advertising or to connect with their consumers. Content moderation is also a brand safety issue because platforms have to balance their desire to keep the social media environment safer against that of greater engagement.
AI content everywhere
Content moderation is likely to be further strained by growing amounts of content generated by artificial intelligence tools. AI detection tools are flawed, and developments in generative AI are challenging people’s ability to differentiate between human-generated and AI-generated content.
In January 2023, for example, OpenAI launched a classifier that was supposed to differentiate between texts generated by humans and those generated by AI. However, the company discontinued the tool in July 2023 due to its low accuracy.
There is potential for a flood of inauthentic accounts – AI bots – that exploit algorithmic and human vulnerabilities to monetize false and harmful content. For example, they could commit fraud and manipulate opinions for economic or political gain.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT make it easier to create large volumes of realistic-looking social media profiles and content. AI-generated content primed for engagement can also exhibit significant biases, such as race and gender. In fact, Meta faced a backlash for its own AI-generated profiles, with commentators labeling it “AI-generated slop.”
More than moderation
Regardless of the type of content moderation, the practice alone is not effective at reducing belief in misinformation or at limiting its spread.
Ultimately, research shows that a combination of fact-checking approaches in tandem with audits of platforms and partnerships with researchers and citizen activists are important in ensuring safe and trustworthy community spaces on social media.
Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
🕒 [UPDATE] Solar Arrays Successfully Deployed
NASA confirms Orion’s solar arrays have deployed, providing power for the spacecraft as it prepares for its journey beyond Earth orbit.
Artemis II Successfully Launches
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has successfully launched its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey toward the Moon in more than 50 years.
The powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back.
On board are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission is already being hailed as a major milestone in NASA’s effort to return humans to deep space.
Shortly after liftoff, the Orion spacecraft successfully reached orbit and deployed its solar arrays, beginning its journey that will eventually send the crew on a translunar trajectory toward the Moon. 
Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission, meaning astronauts will not land but will travel farther from Earth than any human mission in decades while testing critical systems needed for future landings.
The mission also marks several historic firsts, including the first woman and the first person of color—Victor Glover—to travel into lunar space.
NASA says the mission is a key step toward future lunar landings and long-term plans to establish a human presence on the Moon later this decade.
🚀 What’s Next:
A critical engine burn in the coming days will send Orion out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon, continuing humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
🔗 Related External Links & Sources
For official updates and in-depth mission details, visit the following trusted sources:
- NASA: Artemis II Mission Overview
- NASA Artemis Program (Return to the Moon)
- Orion Spacecraft – Mission Details
- Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Overview
- Kennedy Space Center – Launch Operations
- Watch NASA Live Coverage and Replays
🧾 Sources
- NASA official launch coverage and mission updates
- NASA Artemis II press materials and briefings
- NASA Kennedy Space Center launch operations updates
Stay with STM Daily News for live updates on Artemis II.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Published: April 1, 2026 | By: STM Daily News
Source: NASA/John Kraus
Artemis II countdown is underway
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The countdown has officially begun for Artemis II, NASA’s highly anticipated return to crewed lunar missions, marking a historic step toward sending humans back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
At precisely 4:44 p.m. EDT, the countdown clock started ticking at Kennedy Space Center, targeting a 6:24 p.m. launch on Wednesday, April 1. The mission will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. The Artemis II mission marks NASA’s first crewed journey toward the Moon since the Apollo era, using the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
The mission is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence for future Mars exploration.
Launch operations are being conducted at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the historic site of previous Apollo and Space Shuttle missions.
🚀 Final Preparations Underway
Inside the Rocco Petrone Launch Control Center, engineers and launch teams are actively powering up flight systems, verifying communications, and preparing for one of the most complex fueling operations ever attempted.
The rocket will be loaded with hundreds of thousands of gallons of super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, a delicate process requiring precise timing and coordination.
Meanwhile, at Launch Complex 39B, crews are filling the sound suppression system—a massive water tank designed to release a high-volume deluge at liftoff, protecting the rocket from extreme acoustic energy generated during launch.
Source: NASA / Bill Ingalls
👨🚀 Crew in Quarantine Ahead of Launch
The four-person crew remains in quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, undergoing final medical checks and mission briefings.
- Reid Wiseman – Commander
- Victor Glover – Pilot
- Christina Koch – Mission Specialist
- Jeremy Hansen – Mission Specialist (Canadian Space Agency)
Glover, a Southern California native and Ontario High School graduate, is set to make history as the first Black astronaut to travel to lunar space—bringing a powerful local connection to this global mission.
The crew is following a controlled sleep and nutrition schedule while receiving continuous updates on launch conditions and spacecraft readiness.
🌤️ Weather Conditions 80% Favorable
NASA and U.S. Space Force weather teams are closely monitoring conditions ahead of fueling operations. Current forecasts show an 80% chance of favorable weather, with concerns focused on potential cloud cover and high winds.
Weather will continue to be evaluated as the countdown progresses.
📺 How to Watch the Launch Live
NASA will provide live coverage throughout launch day:
- 7:45 a.m. EDT – Tanking operations coverage begins (NASA YouTube)
- 12:50 p.m. EDT – Full launch coverage begins on NASA+
Viewers can also follow along via NASA’s official social media platforms for real-time updates.
🚀 Artemis II Mission Snapshot
- Mission: Artemis II
- Agency: NASA
- Launch Vehicle: Space Launch System (SLS)
- Spacecraft: Orion
- Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center (LC-39B)
- Mission Duration: ~10 days
- Objective: Crewed lunar flyby (no landing)
- Commander: Reid Wiseman
- Pilot: Victor Glover
- Mission Specialists: Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen
🌕 A Mission Decades in the Making
Artemis II will send astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back, serving as a critical test flight for future lunar landings under NASA’s Artemis program.
The mission is designed to validate deep space navigation, life support systems, and spacecraft performance—laying the groundwork for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.
As the countdown continues, all eyes are now on Florida’s Space Coast for what could become one of the most significant spaceflight milestones of the 21st century.
🧾 Sources & References
- NASA – Artemis II Mission Updates and Press Materials
- NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Operations Briefings
- NASA Artemis Program Overview
- Official NASA Broadcast and Launch Coverage
For more details on NASA’s Artemis II mission and live launch coverage, explore the official resources below:
🔗 Related External Links & Sources
- NASA: Artemis II Mission Overview
- NASA Artemis Program Explained
- Kennedy Space Center Official Site
- Orion Spacecraft Details
- Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Overview
- Watch Artemis II Live on NASA YouTube
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission in its Artemis program, sending astronauts on a flight around the Moon to test systems for future lunar landings.
When is the Artemis II launch?
The mission is targeting a launch on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Will Artemis II land on the Moon?
No, Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission designed to test spacecraft systems before a future landing mission.
Who is Victor Glover?
Victor Glover is a NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot who will become the first Black astronaut to travel to lunar space.
Stay with STM Daily News for continuing coverage of Artemis II and NASA’s return to the Moon.
Stay ahead of the curve with STM Daily News’ Tech section, featuring the latest on innovation, consumer technology, digital trends, startups, AI, and the stories shaping how we live and work.
Travel Advisory
Traveling to Mexico this spring? Here’s what to know about current advisories
Traveling to Mexico this spring? Visitors should be aware of state-specific travel advisories, as safety concerns in one region do not affect major resort areas like Cancun and Los Cabos, currently rated Level 2, which encourages increased caution. Monitoring official updates is essential for informed travel decisions amidst evolving conditions.
Last Updated on March 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Traveling to Mexico this spring? Here’s what to know about current advisories
(Tiffany Miller for ALG Vacations) For some travelers counting down to spring break, recent headlines about violence in parts of Mexico have sparked a new question: Should I cancel my trip? Travel advisors say they are seeing a surge in calls and emails from clients trying to determine whether developments in one region affect major resort areas elsewhere.
The questions follow several days of unrest in parts of Mexico after security operations targeting organized crime leaders prompted temporary flight disruptions and shelter-in-place guidance for U.S. government personnel in areas including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. In this article, ALG Vacations explains what current travel advisories mean for spring break travelers heading to Mexico.
The U.S. State Department evaluates Mexico state by state, not as a single destination, and advisory levels vary by region. Many major beach destinations, including Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum and Los Cabos, are currently under a Level 2 advisory, which encourages travelers to exercise increased caution. It does not discourage travel.
Part of the confusion stems from geography. Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast, is roughly 1,300 miles from Cancun and the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean side, about the distance between New York and Miami. Because advisories are assigned state by state, developments in one region do not automatically alter another.
In recent days, that uncertainty has translated into additional inquiries about whether specific resort areas are experiencing disruptions. U.S. Embassy security alerts issued this week indicate that temporary shelter-in-place guidance affecting Puerto Vallarta was lifted and that flight operations resumed. The advisory level for the Mexican state of Quintana Roo remains unchanged.
Some clients are asking about alternatives, advisors say, but many are continuing with their plans after reviewing official updates. Travel patterns often shift in response to breaking headlines, they add, before stabilizing as clearer information becomes available.
The State Department assigns travel advisories on a four-tier scale ranging from Level 1, exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, do not travel. While Level 2 encourages increased awareness, Level 3 and Level 4 carry stronger language discouraging or restricting travel.
Advisories are reviewed regularly and can be updated as conditions evolve. The State Department’s Mexico advisory page breaks down conditions by state, reflecting the country’s federal structure rather than issuing a single national designation. Travelers can also enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which provides real-time security updates and allows U.S. officials to contact citizens in an emergency.
Embassy notices state that airports, hotels and tourism services in Quintana Roo are operating normally. Security conditions across Mexico vary widely by state, with some regions carrying higher advisories and others designated Level 1. Most destinations popular with U.S. travelers are currently classified as Level 2.
As spring break approaches, advisors say informed decision-making depends on reviewing the advisories assigned to a specific destination and monitoring official updates, rather than reacting to national headlines alone. Travel decisions ultimately depend on individual comfort levels, they add, but advisory levels are assigned regionally and should be evaluated accordingly.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
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