Twitter tests 'misleading information' label when users try to 'Like' a tweet with misinformation

Coral Murphy, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Twitter is testing a "misleading information" warning when a user tries to "Like" a tweet it says contains misinformation.

"Our goal with a lot of these prompts and interventions is to encourage more thoughtful consideration to add context to a user's experience," Twitter said.

The news comes after Twitter began labeling tweets that violated their policies against misleading information about civic integrity, COVID-19 and synthetic and manipulated media.

Twitter rolled out messages on its platform preemptively debunking false information related to the 2020 election. Some of the messages discussed how voting by mail is safe and secure and addressed early election results.

British Police are investigating after a stream of anti-Semitic comments were posted on music artist Wiley’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.
British Police are investigating after a stream of anti-Semitic comments were posted on music artist Wiley’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Another feature includes restrictions on retweets with misleading information. Users who attempt to retweet a tweet with a misleading information label must add a comment, or "quote retweet," in order to share it. They will also see a prompt pointing them to information about the topic before they are able to amplify it.

Facebook also took similar precautions heading into the elections.

Facebook announced it is demoting content on Facebook and Instagram, including debunked claims about voting. It is also limiting the distribution of live videos that may relate to the election.

Facebook said it invested billions of dollars and assigned more than 35,000 people to fight harmful content, from “coordinated inauthentic behavior” (accounts that work together to spread misinformation) to foreign interference to election-related misinformation.

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Measures taken by tech companies to stop the spread of misinformation are regularly criticized by conservatives, who allege social media companies systematically silence the political speech of right-leaning users.

President Donald Trump has accused "big tech" of trying to "steal" the election. On Nov. 4, Facebook and Twitter labeled this claim as misleading, as well as a claim that he had won the election.

Follow Coral Murphy on Twitter @CoralMerfi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Twitter tests warning label when liking misleading tweets