Yes, 'The Algorithm' REALLY IS Like That

[jian]

"Everyone already knows that coffee is hot" was the actual tactic used by McDonalds to challenge a lawsuit... a legitimate injury lawsuit, by an elderly woman who endured a terrible burn and multiple skin grafts. I wouldn't be surprised to see these companies trod out something similar if legal action is ever taken on this.

However, that argument didn’t stick in that case, and the plaintiff received significant compensation. Class actions against social media companies followed by legislation in the majority of nations where they’re profitable may be the way we have to go, and if that makes running a social media company unprofitable, well, I’m all for it.

 

[SableWyvern]

Are you implying because things are illegal and still happen, there's no point to making anything illegal..?

It sounds to me as if they're specifically disagreeing with the assertion that, "Most of the problems go away then".

 

[doctorbadwolf]

However, that argument didn’t stick in that case, and the plaintiff received significant compensation. Class actions against social media companies followed by legislation in the majority of nations where they’re profitable may be the way we have to go, and if that makes running a social media company unprofitable, well, I’m all for it.

Eh nothing wrong with, say, old school MySpace or LiveJournal.

It is data brokers designing and owning what amounts to The Internet for many users that is the problem.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

It is. That is precisely the issue, information spreads more effectively socially, which by definition includes disinformation.

@Lanefan was, I believe, alluding to the idea that social media could better be called "anti-social media".

 

[jian]

Eh nothing wrong with, say, old school MySpace or LiveJournal.

It is data brokers designing and owning what amounts to The Internet for many users that is the problem.

Yeah, as long as there’s an internet, people are going to find ways of being horrible to each other on it. But when it becomes profitable for social media companies to meddle in politics, extract and sell our personal information, boost misinformation and victimisation, and polarise public debate to make it both intense and meaningless, well, we should probably work out how to turn that tap off, and sooner rather than later.

 

[GMMichael]

3. People should be liable for statements they made on social media if it can be determined that an individual suffered harm through actions that relied on that statement. Eg. unverified health claims, or dangerous activities without telling people about the proper precautions.

But, doesn't Tide pod eating have a certain, Darwinian, benefit to it?

At this very minute, Meta is being sued for creating an algorithm intended to engage tweens and teens, despite having ample in-house evidence that it was causing harm to many of them.

This is different from content-based suits in the past, because Section 230 immunity doesn't apply here.

I am sure Meta is going to throw all the spaghetti at the wall on this, but discovery has not been going great for them.

You'll have to give us a link for this. All of my FBook profile posts regard illegal things that the FBook has done. So I have a nice set of reminders of why I shouldn't have logged in in the first place.

 

[Ryujin]

D

In Europe it already is illegal but somehow I still receive the same number of crank sales calls.

Offshore call centres. The local governments bust them, then they just reopen down the street.

 

[Ryujin]

However, that argument didn’t stick in that case, and the plaintiff received significant compensation. Class actions against social media companies followed by legislation in the majority of nations where they’re profitable may be the way we have to go, and if that makes running a social media company unprofitable, well, I’m all for it.

Turns out that when you're repeatedly warned about your business practices and even previously successfully sued for damages, but keep doing it anyway, you lose again. Who knew?

 

[RealAlHazred]

I agree, only "people" should be allowed social media accounts. Of course, since corporations are legally defined as "people" in the US...

 

[Umbran]

Exactly, John Smith should be allowed to have an account and he can talk about politics all he likes but it has to be his personally. No hiding behind organizations or pseudonyms.

Alas, I think you have it backwards in effect - this would do less good in controlling bad behavior than it would do harm in enabling folks to be harrassed.