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https://nerdist.com/article/meta-removes-fact-checking-shifts-to-community-notes-facebook-instagram/
It’s a wild world out there on the internet. There’s no denying that. Sometimes, it’s wild in an awesome way, where people’s weird and wacky dreams can come true. But the truth is that determining fact from fiction on the internet has become incredibly difficult. And now, it’s about to get a little bit more tangled. Following on the heels of the model set by Elon Musk’s Twitter (we guess, if there were a time to call it X, it would be now), Meta has announced that it will remove its fact-checking systems from Facebook and Instagram and replace them with Community Notes.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the complicated fact-checking system Facebook had in place, which utilized independent third parties, made “too many mistakes,” had “too much censorship” and was “too politically biased.”
The Community Notes system will be slowly phased into the US over the next months as Fact Checking is phased out of Meta. Meta explains, “We plan to phase in Community Notes in the US first over the next couple of months, and will continue to improve it over the course of the year. As we make the transition, we will get rid of our fact-checking control, stop demoting fact-checked content, and, instead of overlaying full-screen interstitial warnings you have to click through before you can even see the post, we will use a much less obtrusive label indicating that there is additional information for those who want to see it.” Basically, though Community Notes will appear on content, they will not largely feature in a post. And also, the notes will be provided not by independent experts, but… by the community, whomever that might be.
Of additional note, a post from Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, shares that in addition to the fact-checking updates, Meta will be “getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate.” Additionally, Meta’s trust and safety and content moderation teams will now shift from California to Texas, which mirrors Musk’s move of Twitter’s headquarters to the same state.
Make of all this what you will. And spend your time on the internet in places that make you feel safe and happy.
The post Meta Removes Fact-Checking From Facebook and Instagram, Shifts to Community Notes appeared first on Nerdist.
It’s a wild world out there on the internet. There’s no denying that. Sometimes, it’s wild in an awesome way, where people’s weird and wacky dreams can come true. But the truth is that determining fact from fiction on the internet has become incredibly difficult. And now, it’s about to get a little bit more tangled. Following on the heels of the model set by Elon Musk’s Twitter (we guess, if there were a time to call it X, it would be now), Meta has announced that it will remove its fact-checking systems from Facebook and Instagram and replace them with Community Notes.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the complicated fact-checking system Facebook had in place, which utilized independent third parties, made “too many mistakes,” had “too much censorship” and was “too politically biased.”
The Community Notes system will be slowly phased into the US over the next months as Fact Checking is phased out of Meta. Meta explains, “We plan to phase in Community Notes in the US first over the next couple of months, and will continue to improve it over the course of the year. As we make the transition, we will get rid of our fact-checking control, stop demoting fact-checked content, and, instead of overlaying full-screen interstitial warnings you have to click through before you can even see the post, we will use a much less obtrusive label indicating that there is additional information for those who want to see it.” Basically, though Community Notes will appear on content, they will not largely feature in a post. And also, the notes will be provided not by independent experts, but… by the community, whomever that might be.
Of additional note, a post from Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, shares that in addition to the fact-checking updates, Meta will be “getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate.” Additionally, Meta’s trust and safety and content moderation teams will now shift from California to Texas, which mirrors Musk’s move of Twitter’s headquarters to the same state.
Make of all this what you will. And spend your time on the internet in places that make you feel safe and happy.
The post Meta Removes Fact-Checking From Facebook and Instagram, Shifts to Community Notes appeared first on Nerdist.
Could Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader, as we know him from Matt Reeves’ The Batman and its eventual sequel, be our DCU version of the iconic hero? Some rumors making the rounds suggest that James Gunn and DC Studios are at least considering the possibility. Now, we are not advocates for this idea at all. In our humble opinion, the DCU Batman, set to debut in The Brave and the Bold, should be separate from Reeves’ version. Gunn’s new DCU seems to have a totally different tone than what we’ve seen already in Reeves’ world. But let’s say it does happen. Could it work? Yes, maybe it could. Maybe. And there’s precedent for this approach in the pages of DC Comics.
DC Comics Set the Example for How a Realistic Batman Can Exist in a Fantastical Universe
It’s true, Matt Reeves’ version of Batman lives in a gritty, realistic Gotham City. One that doesn’t seemingly vibe with the world of Creature Commandos, or the upcoming Superman. But the comics were very much like this too once. In Frank Millers seminal Batman: Year One, which reintroduced Batman to the modern era, there wasn’t the slightest hint of anything sci-fi or supernatural. Miller’s Gotham was a real world version. (Ok, aside from one mention of “that guy in Metropolis.”) And yet, readers accepted that outside those panels, a far more fantastical DC universe was taking shape. We’ve only had one Reeves Batman movie so far. Technically, it’s early enough into this franchise that more fantastical elements might not feel totally out of place in a sequel.
There could also be a significant time gap between what we see in The Batman and future DCU projects like Superman. Yes, The Batman seemed to be taking place in the present day, or at the very least the 2020s era. But for all we know, Superman and other future DC projects take place in the near future. Enough time for the majority of costumed heroes to have appeared some years after Pattinson’s Batman hit the scene. Yes, Gunn said that his DCU will have some history, suggesting heroes as far back as WWII. But there could be a time gap between those characters and modern-day superheroes. Batman’s debut could theoretically slip into that window of time.
We’ve Seen This Approach Work Before, in the MCU
There’s precedent for all of this in the MCU. If one walked out of the theater in 2008 after having seen Iron Man, they probably were not aware that this technological hero existed in the same universe as Asgardian gods, ancient sorcerers, and giant purple aliens. But subsequent MCU movies like The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 instantly let us know that the world was getting bigger. Matt Reeves could do the same in The Batman – Part II. Even if it’s just a mention of wilder goings-on happening outside the frame. Technically, it’s still early enough to retcon The Batman into being the first DCU movie without being too egregious about it, if they really want to.
Some Wanted Christian Bale’s Batman in the DCEU, Just as Many Want Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the New DCU
The debate over Robert Pattinson’s Batman joining the new DCU is a bit of déjà vu for superhero movie fans. Allegedly, after the massive success of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, executives at Warner Bros. wanted Zack Snyder’s then-upcoming Man of Steel (which Nolan produced) to take place in the same universe as his Batman films. The intent from the folks in charge was that Christian Bale’s Batman and Superman would eventually share the screen together. In hindsight, that likely would have been way more impactful. Not to mention, it would have produced a bigger box office. Allegedly, Nolan put his foot down, and maintained that his Batman’s story was separate (and over). Will Matt Reeves make the same demand for his Bruce Wayne? We’ll all find out soon enough.
The post Here’s How Robert Pattinson Could Become The DCU’s Batman appeared first on Nerdist.
Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images 
A fast-moving wildfire has forced over 30,000 residents to evacuate the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles due to “life-threatening and destructive” winds that are rapidly spreading the flames.
The fire broke out on Tuesday morning. By 10:10 a.m. local time. In just a few hours, the fire expanded even further and the fire had burned over 1,200 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire)
Critical Fire Weather Alert:Southern California is facing a #CriticalFireWeather event through Thursday, with strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity creating extreme wildfire risks. One fire, the #PalisadesFire, has already ignited and is being driven by these high winds. 
… pic.twitter.com/LnUrJiDkWG
More than 10,000 households and over 13,000 structures are at risk from the blaze, according to Kristin Crowley, fire chief of the LA Fire Department as reported by The Associated Press.
California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that many structures have already been destroyed, although no official number has yet been provided by officials. He also warned that the danger is not over, urging residents across Southern California to remain vigilant. Newsom noted that the worst of the winds is expected to hit between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The combination of dry conditions and powerful winds has fueled the fire, and these winds are predicted to strengthen overnight, with gusts up to 100 mph in some of the windiest areas. The windstorm could last for several days and roughly half a million utility customers are at risk of power outages.
This is a developing story. ESSENCE will provide updates as more information becomes available.
TOPICS: Los Angeles WildfiresThe post Los Angeles Wildfires Force 30,000 To Evacuate As Winds Fuel Flames, State Of Emergency Declared appeared first on Essence.
Photo courtesy of BET+
Drama fans, mark your calendars for the highly anticipated spin-off series The Family Business: New Orleans will premiere on January 23, 2025, with a double-episode debut exclusively on BET+. Following the premiere, one episode will drop weekly, leading up to the thrilling finale on Thursday, March 6.
Set against the backdrop of New Orleans’ vibrant yet dangerous streets, the series introduces a new branch of the Duncan family tree. Known for their iconic nightclub, The Midnight Blues, the family finds themselves caught in a web of corruption, turf wars, and crime bosses threatening their legacy. When the stakes become too high, they call on their New York family for backup, promising viewers a familiarsrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FBNolaFamBody.jpg" alt="‘The Family Business: New Orleans’ Brings Big Drama To The Big Easy" width="400" height="259" />Yvette Nicole Brown, David Banner, and Lela Rochon in “The Family Business: New Orleans.” Photo courtesy of BET+
The star-studded cast includes Brandon T. Jackson as Marquis, the dashing son of Big Shirley Duncan (Lela Rochon), who runs The Midnight Blues. Pooch Hall portrays Floyd, Big Shirley’s stylish and protective brother, while Benjamin Stephens takes on Curtis, a bounty hunter drawn into a conflict far more dangerous than expected. Quincy Brown, David Banner, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Orlando Jones round out the ensemble, each adding intrigue, romance, and drama to the mix.
With Carl Weber and Nikaya D. Brown Jones as executive producers and Trey Haley directing, The Family Business: New Orleans promises high-stakes drama, intense family dynamics, and a city as colorful as the characters who inhabit it. Don’t miss this riveting addition to the Family Business universe.
Pooch Hall and Brandon T. Jackson in “The Family Business: New Orleans.” Photo courtesy of BET+TOPICS: BET+ lela rochonThe post ‘The Family Business: New Orleans’ Brings Big Drama To The Big Easy appeared first on Essence.