9GAG - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check

QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.

Overall, we rate 9GAG as a least-biased and questionable based on the promotion of fake images and misleading information as well as numerous failed fact checks.

Detailed Report

Questionable Reasoning: False Claims, Misleading Content, Fake News, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: Hong Kong
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: LIMITED FREEDOM
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Established in 2008, 9GAG is a global cross-platform entertainment media network known for sharing memes, funny videos, and viral content. It offers a space for users to share and enjoy humorous content. 9GAG is headquartered in Hong Kong.

Read our profile on Hong Kong Media and Government.

Funded by / Ownership

9GAG is backed by Y Combinator and other investors, such as First Round Capital, Greycroft Partners, and 500 Startups. It generates revenue through advertising and sponsored content.

Analysis / Bias

9GAG covers a mix of political and non-political content, often presenting a variety of viewpoints through user-generated content. Posts such as “What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate!” and political caricatures like “The elections that lie ahead of us” and “The next debate” illustrate this diversity. Comments on these posts reflect a wide range of opinions, both critical and supportive of political figures like Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

However, 9GAG has also hosted content that can be considered offensive and harmful, such as Islamophobic memes. For example, the meme showing a man in traditional Middle Eastern attire with the caption “I DON’T FEEL SO GOOD, I THINK I NEED TO STAB SOMEONE” perpetuates harmful stereotypes and promotes violence. The user-generated nature of 9GAG can spread such biased and insensitive content, impacting the overall perception of the platform’s neutrality.

Additionally, posts like “They can’t be this stupid; they are evil. One or a few people willing to hijack a brand to push their weirdo agenda. Already fired, btw, but why did they try?” is controversial because it suggests that a company’s decisions were maliciously intended to push a specific agenda, rather than simply misguided or erroneous which reflects a broader issue of biased and unreliable content on 9GAG, as it conveys strong negative opinions and accusations without providing substantial evidence, thereby contributing to divisive and inflammatory discourse.

In general, the site is focused on entertainment, humor, and viral content but also covers political topics with various viewpoints. The user-generated nature of the content can result in unreliable and sometimes offensive information, as evidenced by numerous failed fact checks.

Failed Fact Checks

Overall, we rate 9GAG as a least-biased and questionable based on the promotion of fake images and misleading information as well as numerous failed fact checks. (M. Huitsing 05/31/2024)

Source: https://9gag.com/

Last Updated on May 31, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check