Facebook underreported iPhone traffic for some publishers

[December 17, 2016]  (Reuters) - Facebook Inc <FB.O> said it had underreported the number of views on iPhone of content published by some publishers using its Instant Articles platform between Sept. 20 and Nov. 30.

A man poses with a magnifier in front of a Facebook logo on display in this illustration taken in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Publishers make money through ads on their posts.

Facebook said on Friday that a recent update to one of its metrics had led to the issue and affected publishers using one of its legacy platforms. Traffic numbers for iPad and Android devices were not affected. (http://bit.ly/2hje5ZP)

The company apologized in September for an error in the way it measured a key measure of video viewership that significantly amplified users' viewing times on its platform.

The latest issue has been fixed and updated estimates will be provided, Facebook said.

Facebook also said it was updating the way it calculates potential audience size for ads as a way to give advertisers a better view of the number of people they can expect to reach.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru; Editing by Ted Kerr)

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