L-R: Among the recent posts removed from our Facebook page by Meta were stories about Memorial Day programs, an upcoming event at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and a piece from columnist Tim "Shoe" Sullivan about local softball history. 

If you’re relying on Facebook for news, you’re missing…well, a lot

By Brandi Makuski and Patrick Lynn

If you’re following the Point/Plover Metro Wire on Facebook, you’re missing a lot of news, unfortunately.

Facebook seems to have overactive spam filters these days, so it’s taking down posts that are actually legitimate news stories and not spam.

For example, in June alone, it removed a story link we posted about upcoming Memorial Day programs and another about training offered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) in Custer. Facebook also removed a column from Mr. Tim “Shoe” Sullivan from our page.

Another post, this one a story link about a proposed low-income housing complex, was also inexplicably removed. (Facebook)

All three were removed for reasons we cannot get an answer, We’ve appealed each removal without success.

However, we suspect the posts are being removed because they contain a link to another website, taking users away from Facebook.

We’ve heard from numerous other local entities — including the humane society, of all places — with the same problem.

Therefore, we anticipate this link being removed from Facebook, as well.

This is only one of many problems associated with relying on Facebook for news. Fake news, altered photos, unnamed sources, and unverified crowdsourced details are all major problems. Throw in the top-secret Facebook algorithm (a mathematical formula that determines when you first see a post in your feed), and it can be really difficult to know where to look for fact-based information.

If you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, you can, of course, visit https://spmetrowire.com. Stories on our website, which is monitored by a 24-hour newsroom, are fact-based, well-sourced, and related only to news happening in Portage Co., Wis.

You can also sign up for our daily e-newsletter here.

If you have any questions, you can contact us via email at [email protected].