In the coming weeks or maybe even days, Facebook and Instagram may block all news content on its platforms. This will cut off about half of Manly Observer’s audience in an instant.
While our website remains a well-read source offering extensive local reporting, it is social media that has revolutionised how we deliver instant news, engaging a new generation through stories and reels. But the threat of another news blackout looms large, like the events of February 18, 2021, when Facebook abruptly blocked all news in response to government pressure over payment for content to the larger media players (not us).
Although major media outlets eventually struck lucrative deals with Facebook (now Meta) under the News Media Bargaining Code, Meta has since deprioritised news in its algorithms and recently announced plans to discontinue its payments to the big players when the agreements end in July. We’ve already seen the effect of this funding withdrawal on Nine (who owns the Fairfax papers), who were due to lay off 200 staff the first week of the new financial year.
At the heart of this dispute lies a financial disagreement between Meta, mainstream media, and the Australian government about who should bear the cost of news. Despite not receiving or asking for any payments from Meta, local outlets like Manly Observer have already been categorized as news providers and thus will be punished alongside the big guys. We may very well be banned from your social media screens by the time you are reading this.
Why should you care?
The implications of losing reliable news sources on social media extend beyond convenience.
A news ban risks replacing trustworthy journalism with more polarising and sensational content, fuelling divisive public discourse and fostering misinformation: anything to keep people on platform and engaged, even if it requires constant agitation.
Access to critical local information during emergencies could also become severely compromised, posing tangible risks to community safety and well-being.
We don’t necessarily blame Meta for its choices – why pay for news it doesn’t need to? But with great power comes great responsibility, etcetera. Deprioritising news is a dangerous game. We have no choice but to take on the Meta behemoth with a platform of our own.
How we are responding
We are building a Northern Beaches news app: it’s totally free, can be downloaded on all mobile phones and provides short form news updates and hosts our YouTube videos without any reliance on Meta.
It will start very basic, but we have plans to expand it to include events, traffic, long-form articles, and even audio content and will happily platform other local media providers like community radio, too. The goal is to be useful first and foremost. Sustainable a close second. If we can’t be the former, why bother being the latter?
Our commitment remains steadfast: providing free, frank, fair and accessible news to our community. We encourage readers to download our app via QR code and share it widely.
Download the Manly Observer local news App now here: manlyobserver.com.au/app/
And don’t forget to pop over to the Manly Observer website anytime (save it in your favourites!) at manlyobserver.com.au