Meta Platforms Moves to Discontinue CrowdTangle, Impacting Misinformation Research

Meta Platforms, Inc. META, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has recently decided to shut down CrowdTangle, a key tool used for tracking and analyzing social media interactions and the spread of content. This change comes despite the tool's broad adoption by researchers, media watchdogs, and journalists dedicated to studying the patterns of misinformation propagation across Meta's social networks.

The Significance of CrowdTangle

CrowdTangle has been instrumental in providing insights into the dynamics of social content sharing and the dissemination of potential misinformation. With an easy-to-use interface, it allowed users to follow trends, measure post performance, and keep tabs on the engagement metrics of public content across Facebook and Instagram. The loss of CrowdTangle leaves a void for professionals who have relied on it for real-time social media monitoring and investigations into questionable information campaigns.

Implications for Stakeholders

As a tool that offered unparalleled access to data on how posts trend and disseminate across Meta's platforms, CrowdTangle's discontinuation is concerning for various stakeholders. Researchers and watchdogs fear that without such transparency, it may become more challenging to hold the company accountable and to identify when and how misinformation circulates online. However, the decision to discontinue the service may be part of Meta's larger strategic measures to manage and disseminate information concerning its platforms' usage and content spread internally.

About Meta Platforms, Inc.

META develops technology products that facilitate global connection and sharing among people. The corporation's expansive lineup includes mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, wearable technology, and smart home devices. Meta's headquarters are located in Menlo Park, California, and the company continues to be a central player in shaping the digital communication landscape globally.

Meta, CrowdTangle, Misinformation