I hit my first instance of Meta blocking Canadian news content.
Rachael sent me a story from #CBCVancouver via Instagram messages.
The thumbnail is visible in messages (1), but when I click, I get the restricted message (2)
I wasn’t following the CBCVancouver account, and when I search for and visit the profile, I get a different message (3)
I guess Rachael hasn’t had this rolled out to her account yet.
Remember, there are no good guys in this #BillC18 debacle.
We disagree on this point, I think the news orgs are the good guys.
Why? Because groups like Meta are profiting from scaping the site without compensation. It's not like Meta is simply showing the headline and thumbnail, they are showing some of the content from the article itself.
Meta's not giving free promotion, they are profiting off of the content of others.
Edit: it looks like the information that Facebook shows is consensual via "Open Graph"
The bill penalizes Meta even if they link but do zero scraping. Regardless though, news organizations can breathe a sigh of relief as Meta is terminating the totally one-sided relationship where only Meta benefited at news organizations' expense.
Now if only more people would terminate their relationship with Meta and move to social media services where individuals have a say in how things are shared and monetized.