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Why users can’t resist junk news on Facebook

Season 2018 Episode 141 | 11m 20s

Facebook’s newsfeed algorithm learns in great detail what we like, and then strives to give us more of the same -- and it's that technology that can be taken advantage of to spread junk news like a virus. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien begins a four-part series on Facebook’s battle against misinformation that began after the 2016 presidential election.

Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by Consumer Cellular and Cunard Cruise Line. For a complete list of funders for the PBS NewsHour and PBS NewsHour weekend, click here.
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