Facebook is rolling out new features to combat the tsunami of fake news.  The slow and cautious implementation will focus on the worst of the worst offenders.

"We do believe that we have an obligation to combat the spread of fake news," said Facebook vice president of product management John Hegeman.

When users spot a piece of questionable news shared on their timelines, they'll be able to report it as fake.  Once a certain number of complaints is reached, Facebook will refer it to a group of third-party fact-checking organizations including the US ABC News, The Associated Press, FactCheck.org, Politifact, and Snopes.  Facebook says this group is likely to expand.

Fake news has been building on social media, but 2016 was a banner year for crap.  From fake cancer cures and celebrity hoaxes, the subjects quickly turned political during the US Presidential Elections and might have influenced public perceptions to sway the outcome - as well as inspired some dangerous and idiotic behavior.

Earlier this month, an imbecile with an assault rifle fired a shot at a Washington, DC pizza restaurant while "investigating" some garbage he read on social media about a child sex ring located there.  Oh, and it was supposedly run by top Democratic Party officials.  SMDH.

Lies race around the world before the truth gets its shoes on:  Another fake story, headlined "FBI Agent Suspected In Hillary Leaks Found Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide" from the nonexistent Denver Guardian, was shared 1,000 times more than material from the real newspapers.