A new notification has been popping up on some Facebook users’ accounts warning that soon, in response to Canadian legislation, news will no longer be available to view or share on the social media platform. Others on Instagram have seen notifications stating content from news publications can’t be viewed in Canada.
For now, these notifications seem to be appearing at random; but the changes will soon be enforced, and quality community-based journalism and the publications that support its creation will no longer be accessible on Facebook or Instagram. Google has said it will follow suit and block news links in Canada on its various platforms and search engines in response to Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act.
This is not good news
Let’s break down the Online News Act as the government’s attempt to redress market imbalances by requiring digital platforms, such as Meta and Google, to pay for the content they post from community media.
Google, Facebook, Twitter (now “X”), and other social media are digital platforms that distribute other people’s content. They don’t generate any content themselves; they let others use the platform to post content to which a lot of people are attracted. The viewing this content by many people allows the digital distribution platforms to sell advertising and generate huge profits (because they don’t spend any money generating their own content).
As a result, advertising revenue for community media (newspapers, radio, television, and attached websites) has dropped significantly, even though a lot of the content presented on the digital platforms comes from these same community media.
C-18 requires that digital platforms provide community media with a fair portion of the advertising revenues that are generated from that quality community media content. So, the response from the digital platforms has been to threaten to block that content – a cynical manoeuvre that denies community media access to the promotional value of reaching online audiences. It’s a pressure tactic to force community media to back off from claiming a fair portion of those advertising revenues.
Stand up to big tech
In response, the Canadian government, as well as the Quebec government and all state-owned companies, the city of Montreal, and a growing number of municipalities, businesses, and media organizations, have announced they will no longer advertise on Meta platforms. All political parties in Quebec have also stopped advertising on Facebook and Instagram, including the Bloc Québécois, which is so far the only federal party to do so. At a local level, Accès Entreprise Beauharnois-Salaberry has announced it will also suspend its advertising on Meta-owned platforms and is encouraging local businesses to do the same.
Considering the tactics taken by Meta and Google, those who appreciate quality locally produced journalism should stand up to big tech. Until the digital platforms agree to pay community media for their content, don’t let them block you out! Don’t pay for advertising from the digital platforms; access the quality content produced by community media directly, through their own websites and mobile apps; and send a message to your elected representatives to stand firm on C-18 and other measures to protect and enhance community media.
Don’t let the digital platforms bully their way to larger profits by unfairly exploiting the quality community media content of publications like The Gleaner. Instead of finding us on social media, please download our app, subscribe to the paper, sign up for news alerts and email notifications, and bookmark our website, www.the-gleaner.com.
Gleaner staff