Facebook has started a small-scale test in the United States, asking users via a notification whether they are concerned that friends or acquaintances on the network may become extremists.
“Are you worried that someone you know will become an extremist?”, says in the notification. “We think it is important to prevent extremism on Facebook. Others in your situation have received confidential support.”In the message links are directed to pages that can help in the situation.
As part of the test, Facebook will also report it if users have come into contact with extremist messages. Facebook says it’s working with various organizations and experts to keep extremism off the platform. It is not known whether the test will eventually be carried out in the Great Britain.
According to Facebook, this trial is in line with the company’s Redirect Initiative, which combats “violent extremism and dangerous organizations” in several countries.
Facebook has been trying to act against extremism on the network for years. For example, extremist videos are removed and extremist groups are blocked. According to European directives, companies like Google and Facebook must be able to take this type of content offline within half an hour.
