Casagrande: What we can do about AI scammers’ Alabama football Facebook pages

Again, within the timeline, there are three dots in the top right of each post. Tap or click for a menu that allows you to hit “not interested.” Some options can hide the post (and see fewer like it), report the posts or block the page.

The exact formula for Facebook’s algorithm isn’t pubic but these actions can’t help the visibility of these pages.

Definitely don’t interact with them.

Don’t hit thumbs up, or even the angry face.

Avoid even calling them out as fake because comments give it algorithm juice. It’s like pulling a weed only to see more pop up in its place.

Then there’s the inevitable moment when you see your uncle or high school teacher share one of these fake posts. We can both show them grace for being duped while informing them they’re part of the problem.

News and/or social media literacy can’t be taken for granted so we can educate our friends and family about how to spot the AI photos and fake news.

We’re talking about the textbook definition of fake news, to be clear. That doesn’t include headlines or opinions that are disagreeable.

It’s a matter of common sense.

Does a story sound false? Google it. See if any other legitimate outlets are covering it. If not, that page isn’t worth your time or your trust.

Ultimately, that’s what this is all about.

These Facebook posts about sports aren’t the downfall of democracy in the free world, but they contribute to a larger problem. It erodes trust in what we read online.

And if scammers and fool so many people with easily spotted fake photos about a football coach, how much damage can they do with serious matters like public health or safety?

Meta fired its third-party fact-checkers who helped police some of the hoaxes and scams that would hit the social network in the past.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg considers it a response to what he calls censorship that resulted from checking those sometimes inconvenient facts.

And that’s certainly his prerogative, if that’s how he wants to run his company.

Those decisions have an impact, though.

Not that Facebook was ever a city of gold, but they’re going to lose population if it’s covered in the fake AI graffiti that’s overtaking its algorithm.

It’s a long fall from where this whole experiment began.

As a college student, when Facebook emerged from Harvard dorm rooms, this now-middle-aged columnist loved sharing party pictures and putting names with faces from English class or the bar.

It became less cool every year since.

Parents were allowed to join.

It became more about politics than parties.

Look at us now. College-aged us would be ashamed.

No more keg stand shots or costume party pics.

We’re here talking about fake pictures of football coaches and players polluting what was once our playground.

Anyone from my generation also grew up when AOL was the internet, but that too-big-to-fail behemoth is long gone from mainstream culture.

Fittingly, it’s those who still have AOL email addresses who are feeding the AI monster that’s eating the soul of Facebook.

Maybe it’s time to sign off.

If Facebook doesn’t care about Facebook, why should we?

We had good times, but this isn’t until death do we part.

The free market has a voice.

Maybe it’s time we use it somewhere else.