After the breakup, Canadian news orgs learn to live without Facebook

Author’s note: In June, The Government of Canada passed the Online News Act to “ensure that platforms compensate news businesses fairly.” Meta responded by blocking Canadian news from all its platforms, while Google threatened to do the same when the law came into effect on Dec. 19. As November drew to a close, Google and Canada came to an agreement. The search engine would pay $100 million annually to compensate specific news companies. Who will be compensated and how much will be worked out over the next months. Canada’s National Observer penned a goodbye note to Meta with a few words for Google.

Dear Meta,

So you’ve walked out. You say you’re just not that into me.

Things were so great at first. I couldn’t believe how much fun we had together — how generous you were, telling your friends about me, helping me to grow, getting me out everywhere.

Remember, back when nobody had even heard of me, and you took that story about Canada’s police spying on citizens protesting oil pipelines and sent it to hundreds of thousands of people around the world? Remember the one about the leader of the Conservative Party calling a press conference and then telling reporters they couldn’t ask questions?

We had such good times together!

But that doesn’t mean you should be able to do anything you want. We live in a democracy, ya know, and our elected government gets to make the rules. I’ll just say it: You think you’re above it all. So you’re leaving.

Really? After all we’ve been through together?

Oh, Meta, you have so much wealth, so many friends. You know how hot you look when you share them?

You act like you have all the answers, but you don’t. Without me, people will be free to lie all over you about what’s up with global warming. You’re weird, Meta, but you still do live on Planet Earth with the rest of us, right?

People are already asking, “Why can’t I find you on Meta? Where have you gone?” I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, Meta, but you don’t come out of this looking too good. When readers try to pass my articles around, this off-putting message pops up on you that blames Canada for what you have done. Why you gotta spread rumours like that?

I know there are some who think it was misguided of Canada to regulate you. You thought we news sites would all just freak out like we’d been hit by a thousand bot attacks if you up and left. But I, for one, have learned that I can live without you. I’ll keep on producing news, and readers will find me everywhere but with you. They’ll see me in their email inboxes, on Apple News, and, dare I say it, on Google.

I’ve got options, you know. I’ll cosy up to every high-calibre social media company out there. I’ll find new friends who actually respect me and don’t make me feel like I’m “too much” or bummin’ them out…“I will survive!”

So here’s to clearing our shared cache. Yeah, I got that line from my new frenemy, ChatGPT. Turns out, you’re not the only frenemy a high-quality journalism site can find out there. So go ahead and tell everyone I’m the crazy one. Go on and exploit some other news sources in some other country. Okay? I’m better off without you, Meta!

Dearest Google,

My darling…know how much I value you. Since Meta left, I’ve been thinking about you almost nonstop, counting the things you do for me. Please know I will not take you for granted ever. The questions we’ll answer! The information we’ll share!

I’m so happy we’ll still be together to promote democracy, to protect the environment, to provide information about climate policy and solutions that will lead to climate stability for all Canadians. When I think about everything we’ll do together in 2024, I get butterflies.

Love,
Canada’s National Observer

P.S.
Silicon mobsters’ chokehold on Canada
Tragedy of the Commons: Google, Meta and Canada’s Online News Act
It’s been Said Canada is the Toughest News Environment on Earth
Be Strong in the Fight Against Big Tech, Canada
How the News Disappeared in Canada