Live streamed murders. Terrorists recruiting new members. Hate groups organizing. Liberals and conservatives sealing themselves off in echo chambers.
With nearly 2 billion people around the world checking in monthly, it makes sense that Facebook is dealing with some very sticky issues. The social network is facing increasing pressure to address them head on.
On Thursday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new vision for the company. He's shifting its focus from connecting individuals to building communities, namely by getting people to join more Facebook groups.
The change is summed up in the company's new mission statement: "Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together."
But how much of the company's problems can really be fixed by the new direction?
Filter bubbles
Facebook (FB, Tech30) has been accused of contributing to filter bubbles — where people only see news and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs and biases. It's not just Facebook's algorithms. They're created by the friends we choose to have, the people we decide to mute, and the stories we click.