Twitter, Facebook Label Trump’s ‘Up BIG’ Post as Misinformation

On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Facebook and Twitter added warning labels to several of President Donald Trump’s social media posts.  These labels ensure the spread of misinformation is lessened, especially during a tense election time.

What We Know:

• President Trump took to Twitter to express how his lead vanished due to late ballots being counted and blames Democrats and “pollsters”.

Last night I was leading, often solidly, in many key States, in almost all instances Democrat run & controlled. Then, one by one, they started to magically disappear as surprise ballot dumps were counted. VERY STRANGE, and the “pollsters” got it completely & historically wrong!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2020

• President Trump took to social media on Wednesday at midnight to state without evidence “We are up BIG but they are trying to STEAL the election.” He also tweeted that “Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed!”
• When the post is flagged a message appears on the tweet letting individuals know the following post has not been fact-checked and may be “misleading” information regarding the election.

We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2020

• These warnings prevent the posts from being shared and replied to by followers and other viewers. Although the interactions have been limited the posts can still be reshared with comments, but the content will be hidden behind a label that determines the information as misleading.

• As for Facebook, Trumps’s posts are still visible but to limit the false spread of information, the post is accompanied by labels that provide fact-checked information.

During a time where information can be spread vastly, it is important for companies such as Twitter and Facebook to allow accurate information to be shared.