The Impact of Misleading Data on Media Companies

This chapter discusses how media companies like MTV News, Bocativ, and Vice Media made detrimental shifts to video content based on misleading data from Facebook, leading to staff cuts and failed strategies. It also explores the consequences of inflated metrics on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Meta, and Facebook, and highlights the struggle with moderation, data integrity, and ethical practices, revealing the troubling state of the internet's infrastructure. Additionally, it condemns the invasive monetization tactics employed by Reach PLC and the detrimental effects of disruptive ads on news websites and the overall quality of the internet.