Facebook to remove its News tab and stop paying publishers for news

The move follows the expiration of Meta's news licensing deals in the US, including agreements with CNN and the New York Times, with plans to do the same in Australia soon.

Facebook's News tab, launched in 2019 with significant content deals, will be phased out in April 2024. Meta states that it will not pursue new commercial deals for news and will not introduce future products tailored for news publishers.

This marks a shift in focus for Meta, which previously emphasized the importance of sustaining journalism and democracy. Instead, Meta intends to prioritize resources towards content categories such as short-form video, aligning with user preferences.