After fake news websites used Facebook to spread bogus stories far and wide leading up to the 2016 election, the social media platform vowed to take action.
But hoax stories are still making waves on Facebook—a situation that is not helped by President Trump labeling any reporting he finds unflattering as “fake news.”
Take, for example, the website America’s Last Line Of Defense, which recently posted blatantly false stories alleging that the Ninth Circuit Court ruled Christianity to be illegal and that WikiLeaks published photos of former President Obama’s supposed Islamic redecoration of the White House.
Last week, the outlet published a story claiming that Malia Obama was “arrested with a gang of thugs in Chicago” that has already been shared over 1,500 times on Facebook. The fake news article, with overtly racist undertones, said she was busted after “a day of drinking, drugs and dogfighting at a public park in Chicago.”
Other recent popular stories include allegations that Obama visited a FEMA camp, Trump rescinded legal rights for undocumented immigrants, and that the Clintons may be killing investigators working for Rep. Trey Gowdy, a post nearing 2,000 Facebook shares.
Last Line Of Defense frequently posts content from platforms like America—Love It Or Leave It, which similarly shares Last Line Of Defense articles.
While Last Line Of Defense’s own About Us page says that “all articles should be considered satirical,” judging by the Facebook interactions, readers appear to be believing their “reporting.”