The Content Homogenization of Fact-Checking Through Platform Partnerships: A Comparison Between Eight Countries

Abstract

This article evaluates the extent of social media policing in fact-checking (as opposed to verifying public figures’ statements) and the thematic convergence across eight countries in Europe and Latin America. Based on audience reach, we collected links from various organizations (independent outlets, legacy media, or global news agencies). A representative stratified sample of 25% resulted in 3,154 articles. Among the findings, the trend of social media policing prevails across countries and organizations, except for most European legacy media. Independent news-born fact-checking organizations follow a convergent path, sharing more similarities with their global counterparts than their national media peers.