Despite restriction, 'junk news' still flourishes on social media

Even as efforts ramp up to root out misinformation such as Facebook's "War Room," seen here, researchers say low quality and "junk news" is still flourishing on social media. [Photo: AFP]

Despite an aggressive crackdown by social media firms, so-called "junk news" is spreading at a greater rate than in 2016 on social media ahead of the US midterm elections, according to researchers.

Oxford Internet Institute researchers concluded that Facebook and Twitter remain filled with "extremist, sensationalist, conspiratorial, masked commentary," and other forms of "low-quality" news.