Facebook fact checker admits wrongly flagging article criticizing masks in schools

A Facebook fact-checking partner admitted on Tuesday it was wrong to flag an article that criticized a study encouraging mask mandates in schools.

Robby Soave, senior editor at Reason, wrote about how his article, titled “The Study That Convinced the CDC To Support Mask Mandates in Schools Is Junk Science,” was flagged by fact-checker Science Feedback.

“A friend alerted me that when she tried to share a recent article of mine, the social media site automatically blurred the accompanying image, replacing it with the ominous declaration that the link contained ‘false information checked by independent fact-checkers,’” Soave explained in a follow-up piece.

Science Feedback is a “worldwide network of scientists sorting fact from fiction in science based media coverage” with the goal to “help readers know which news to trust,” according to its website. It flagged Soave’s piece saying "masking can help limit transmission" of COVID in schools and it was inaccurate to report "there's no science behind masks on kids."

Soave responded that his article was based on an article in The Atlantic that said the CDC’s claim that “schools without mask mandates have triple the risk of COVID outbreaks” was “based on very shaky science.”

"Neither Zweig's article nor mine makes the claim that masks don't work on kids, or that masks fail to limit transmission in schools. Both addressed a single study that concerned mask mandates,” Soave said.

Soave reached out to both Facebook and Science Feedback seeking clarification or a correction.

"We have taken another look at the Reason article and confirm that the rating was applied in error to this article," Science Feedback responded to Soave. "The flag has been removed. We apologize for the mistake."

Facebook communications manager Ayobami Olugbemiga shifted the responsibility onto its partners.

"Thanks for reaching out and appealing directly to Science Feedback," Olugbemiga responded. "As you know, our fact-checking partners independently review and rate content on our apps and are responsible for processing your appeal."