Facebook is paying controversial creators to produce rage-bait content
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Meta is paying far-right creators through its Facebook content monetization program for rage-baiting posts.
An ABC NEWS Verify investigation found that Australian far-right figures like Hugo Lennon (white nationalist with neo-Nazi links) and Monica Smit (anti-vaccine founder) are earning money via Facebook's invitation-only Content Monetization program. Lennon received revenue since September 2025, while The Noticer (far-right news site) has been paid since November 2025. Meta says it has policies against violating content, but researchers argue the company's engagement-based model incentivizes extreme material. Meta declined to answer specific questions, stating it is not its role to police offensiveness.
What commenters are saying
Commenters largely see this as not new, noting Facebook has long prioritized engagement over safety, especially since removing fact-checking. Some distinguish between Meta commissioning rage-bait and merely allowing monetization, but others argue the algorithmic promotion makes it de facto payment. A few criticize ABC for re-reporting independent journalist Tom Tanuki's work without credit. One commenter highlights the broader problem of social media paying for attention-seeking behavior, with COVID-era conspiracies ballooning views on YouTube and Facebook.