Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg on 31 January, that the company's work to encourage "meaningful connections" has already reduced total time spent on Facebook by "roughly 50 million hours every day."
Facebook had announced in January that it would be changing up its feeds so users saw more posts from friends and family that it deems "meaningful," while deemphasising posts from publishers and businesses.
The company cast the changes as part of a refocus on "community" – prioritising social interactions and relationships, even if it means people spend less time on the platform.
Zuckerberg added that the changes will make Facebook's community and business "stronger over the long term."
50 Million Hours Lesser on Facebook
The number of daily users in the United States and Canada fell for the first time in Facebook's history, in the last quarter of 2017, dipping in the company's home market by 7,00,000 from a quarter earlier to 184 million.
While Facebook enjoyed strong revenue, profit and all-time stock highs in 2017, there are signs that users may be pulling back from the service.
According to comScore, Facebook visitors spent an average of 910 minutes on the platform in December 2017, AP reported. That’s down from 974 minutes in December 2016 and from 1,050 minutes in the same month in 2015.
Analysts have been cautious about Facebook as it revamps its News Feed, also in part, as an effort to curb the spread of misinformation and false news, and instead refocus on updates from friends and family.
Total revenue, though, showed little impact, rising 47 percent to $12.97 billion, while full-year revenue was also up 47 percent at $40.65 billion, according to Reuters.
Total advertising revenue was $12.78 billion, compared with analysts' estimate of $12.30 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
Facebook Attempts Damage Control?
2017 was a strong year for Facebook, but it was also a hard one. In 2018, we’re focused on making sure Facebook isn’t just fun to use, but also good for people’s well-being and for society.Mark Zuckerberg, Co-founder and Chief Executive, Facebook
In January 2018, Facebook announced that it would ask its two billion users to rank their trust in news sources as part of an effort to combat the spread of misinformation.
Facebook also announced that it would deliver more local news to users in its latest effort to manage the flow of information on the enormously-influential social network.
Other recent changes include a new “trusted sources” ranking intended to “make sure the news you see is high quality” and to foster “a sense of common ground” rather than sow division, Zuckerberg said in a previous post.
The changes come as the online giant seeks to address charges that it has failed – along with Google and Twitter – to prevent the spread of false news, especially ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.
Too Little Too Late?
Marc Rotenberg, President of the Electronic Privacy Information Center non-profit organisation and long-time Facebook critic, however seemed skeptical. He said to AP in an email:
Such changes are not meaningful. Mark Zuckerberg will not solve the problems of Facebook by changing a few settings.Marc Rotenberg, President, Electronic Privacy Information Center
Rotenberg would prefer Facebook to give users more control how their data is collected and to back efforts aimed at preventing foreign governments from influencing US elections.
Like other social media companies, While Facebook has said it will try to prevent election meddling and will require disclosure on political ads, it’s been silent about proposed legislation that would require it to do so.
"Facebook's recent changes do not address the threats to elections or public health," said Roger McNamee, a venture capitalist and early Facebook investor who is now among the company's most vocal critics, in an email to AP.
Facebook had no immediate response to broader criticism of its strategy, AP added.
(With inputs from PTI, AP, & Reuters)
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