WHAT IS THE TRENDING BOX?
It’s the widget in the top right corner of the Facebook home page (when you first log in from a computer) that lists major news items relevant to your interests. It’s different from News Feed, the center column, which features posts from your friends.
WHO DECIDES WHAT’S IN IT?
A group of curators, who pick from a pool of popular stories surfaced by an algorithm. Unlike traditional news sites, which run staff mastheads and bylines, Facebook keeps their names private; the widget doesn’t indicate human involvement.
WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE UPSET?
Because some 63% of U.S. adult users get a portion of their news from Facebook, up from 47% in 2013. That gives the social network significant power–and has sparked more calls for transparency to ensure that that power is not being abused.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- The New Face of Doctor Who
- Putin’s Enemies Are Struggling to Unite
- Women Say They Were Pressured Into Long-Term Birth Control
- Scientists Are Finding Out Just How Toxic Your Stuff Is
- Boredom Makes Us Human
- John Mulaney Has What Late Night Needs
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com