Facebook Takes Steps to Curb Sensational Health Claims
- WSJ report shows site is overrun with bogus cancer information
- Facebook will identify common phrases and show posts lower
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Facebook Inc. said it’s taking steps to curb postings about sensational medical or health-related claims, after a report said the social media site and YouTube were being overrun with content containing potentially harmful information about alternative cancer treatments.
The Wall Street Journal conducted an investigation into the two sites, prompting Facebook to address the situation in a blog post Tuesday. The Journal found that widespread misinformation sometimes appeared alongside advertisements, videos or pages for proven treatments.