Meta, formerly known as Facebook, announced that it will sunset Facebook News for users in the U.S. and Australia in early April, as part of its strategy to further deemphasize news and politics on the platform. This move follows the shutdown of the feature in the U.K., France, and Germany last year.

Launched in 2019, the News tab curated headlines from various news organizations, including national and international outlets, as well as smaller local publications. Despite the closure of Facebook News, users will still have access to news articles through links, and news organizations can continue to post and promote their stories on the platform.

The decision to sunset Facebook News aligns with Meta's efforts to scale back news and political content amidst ongoing criticism regarding misinformation and its potential contribution to political polarization. This change primarily affects the recommendations system rather than posts from accounts users choose to follow.

While Meta reassures that the change does not impact its fact-checking network or review of misinformation, addressing misinformation remains a challenge, particularly during significant events like elections.

According to Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, Meta's decision reflects its attempt to distance itself from politics and avoid becoming embroiled in political controversies.

Media analyst Rick Edmonds acknowledges the decline in Facebook traffic to news websites over the years, prompting news organizations to explore alternative audience engagement strategies like search and newsletters.

Despite Facebook's diminishing role as a news source, a 2023 Pew Research study indicates that half of U.S. adults still get news from social media, with Facebook being the primary platform for three in 10 U.S. adults.

Recently, Instagram, also owned by Meta, faced criticism for ceasing to "proactively" recommend political content from accounts users don't follow, prompting concerns about transparency and user awareness regarding platform changes.