Staff ReporterFacebook is rolling out a new feature called ‘Why am I seeing this post?’ that explains the factors the site uses to decides which posts appear in your News Feed.
The social media platform has introduced a new ‘Why am I seeing this post?’ feature, to help users understand and control content in their News Feeds.
It is the first time the company has given people access to this insight directly in its app and on the website.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others have been criticised for using algorithms to recommend content without explaining to users how they work.
Facebook told the Report Focus News the new feature was available for some users in the UK today. It will roll out fully by 2 May.
The “Why am I seeing this post?” button will be found in the drop-down menu that appears at the top right of every post in the News Feed.
The tool will offer insights such as: “You’ve commented on posts with photos more than other media types.”
Facebook said it was also adding more information to the “Why am I seeing this ad?” button that has appeared on advertisements since 2014.
It will now let people know if details on their Facebook profile matched those on an advertiser’s database.
It already revealed whether some of your online activity, such as the location where you connected to the internet, was being used to target ads at you.
“Both of these updates are part of our ongoing investment in giving people more context and control across Facebook,” the company said in a blog.
Facebook has faced intense scrutiny after a series of data breaches, privacy scandals and allegations that the platform was used to interfere in elections.
