Facebook’s News Ban Threat: What Agents Need to Know

After two years of dysfunction, Facebook is at it again, threatening to ban news from the platform if a new bill is passed through Congress.

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) would require Facebook to negotiate and compensate publishers for their content. The same fight the platform had in Australia in 2021 which saw crucial sites like BOM and health services pages shut down.

If this bill passes, Facebook will be forced to consider removing news from its platform. This announcement has had people across the world talking—so let’s look into what this means for businesses and how they should approach their digital presence going forward.

What Is The JCPA?

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) is a proposed piece of legislation that would require online platforms like Facebook to negotiate with publishers over compensation for their content.

Real estate agents need to be aware of this potential ban because it could have significant consequences for them, as some of what we put out, can be deemed by the platform as 'news'.

For example, without access to news stories about local markets or current events related to housing, they may not be able to get their message across effectively. In addition, without access to news content they won’t be able to target potential customers through sponsored advertisements or posts in groups related to housing or other topics relevant to buyers and sellers alike.

Without these tools agents may find it difficult to reach out and make connections with prospective clients - an essential part of any successful real estate career.

What Can Agents Do?

Real Estate Agents should start by monitoring the situation closely so they can stay up-to-date with any changes that may occur should this bill pass into law.

They should also be proactive in exploring alternative means of advertising such as creating their OWN social media channel.

Additionally, now is a great time for agents to focus on building relationships with local media outlets who might be able collaborate with them on promotional campaigns or share stories about sales in their area which can help increase exposure for their listings.

Facebook’s latest threats are concerning for many small business owners, including real estate agents who depend heavily on social media as part of their marketing strategy.

If Congress passes the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), Facebook will likely ban news from its platform in the US which would have serious implications for those in the real estate industry who rely heavily on access to news stories about local markets or events related to housing when promoting open houses or targeting prospective customers online through sponsored posts or adverts..

The Response So Far

In light of this potential disruption, some real estate agencies have expressed concern over how they will be affected by such a ban on news content if it were implemented by Facebook.

Back here in Australia, we faced the same thing in 2021.

It remains unclear exactly how this debate between tech giants and the government will play out, what we do know is that real estate agents should be prepared for any potential changes to how they use social media like Facebook for promotion and marketing purposes due to an eventual ban on news content from the platform.

The best way for them to stay informed is by keeping tabs with with Bespoke Media Group so they can stay ahead of any potential changes that may affect their businesses down the line.

Written by Bespoke Media Group