Go Fact Yourself

The End of Meta’s Fact-Check Era: Who’s Really in Control?

Author

Fatih Taskiran
January 08, 2025 • Reading Time: 7 minutes

Hello there, curious minds of The Core!

Good morning! Meta (formerly Facebook) just announced the end of its Fact-Checking program, confirming our title yesterday, "It's Time for a Reset." This couldn't be more on point.

With the internet turning into a bottomless pit of half-truths, The Core stands out: real humans sifting through all the noise to bring you only the truth, not algorithms. If the content avalanche keeps growing, we can be your map, compass, and flashlight.

Today’s world, simplified for you:

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will ditch the Fact-Checking program in favor of community-powered "Community Notes." This nods to Elon Musk's X strategy and is probably music to Trump's ears. Now, Meta's fact-checking is criticized for being biased instead of tackling fake news. Moderation teams are moving from California to Texas to shed Silicon Valley "groupthink." Some call this a victory for free speech; others warn of a tsunami of false information.

It just shows how messy the content landscape has gotten. Many fear hate speech, conspiracy theories, and propaganda will return with a vengeance after Meta funding ends. Despite the algorithms that flood us with half-truths and hot takes, The Core keeps it real, relevant, and worth your time. Meta is letting go, so we're stepping up.

Paradise to Inferno

Pacific Palisades firefighters and residents faced a nightmare scenario this week: a fast-growing fire forced over 30,000 people from their homes. The fire grew to nearly 3,000 acres in just a few hours, engulfing historic properties and modern mansions. Sunset Boulevard became a grim parade route of cars escaping the fire as powerful gusts knocked down power lines.

Extreme winds—some reaching 100 mph—stopped aerial firefighting at night. Santa Anas blows hot, dry air through canyons, accelerating the spread of wildfires. Officials warn to stay alert in these threatened areas. If you see glowing embers, it might already be time to leave.

Silicon Valley Sensation

Sam Altman—the high-profile CEO of OpenAI—just got caught up in a legal tussle: his sister is suing for sexual abuse she suffered as a child. The Altman family quickly denied the claims, calling them "utterly untrue" and pointing out Ann's mental health issues. Even though the court documents detail deeply disturbing accusations, Sam Altman insists his sister's statements have "evolved drastically over time."

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Altmans say they've supported her financially and emotionally for years, but the rift has only grown. Now that there's no hearing date, both sides braced for a contentious legal battle. In Silicon Valley, where AI leaps forward daily, it's a reminder that even the brightest stars cannot escape real life.

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💡 Core Wisdom

❝

Inspiration arrives as a packet of material to be delivered.

📸 Lens to Life

Take a look back at Jimmy Carter's life of service through photos.

🧮 Core Count: 50,000

World's lowest earthquake count in a year.

🗓️ Flashback:

1656 - The oldest commercial newspaper still in print, “Weeckelycke Courante van Europa,” now known as 'Haarlems Dagblad,' began publication in Haarlem, Netherlands.

1790 - First State of the Union address by George Washington.

1835 - US national debt is $0 for the first and only time in history

1912 - The African National Congress is formed by chiefs, representatives of people's and church groups, and others to defend the rights and freedoms of all Africans.

2016 - Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto announces that Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán has been captured six months after escaping prison.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

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