Yes, 'The Algorithm' REALLY IS Like That

[MGibster]

4. Only individuals (not groups/organizations) be alllowed social media accounts and they had to provide ID documents/passport driving licence. Their name printed on each post along with their country of origin.

Here in the United States there's no way this wouldn't be a violation of our 1st Amendment rights. Prior to Facebook, my gaming club had a social media account used to advertise our presence and schedule events. Tom Anderson was even our friend.

 

[SableWyvern]

OK. I find calling a message board and Twitter both social media, about as helpful as saying Water and Molten Steel are both liquids, but hey, carry on.

Inasmuch as it is entirely true in both cases, I agree.

I would certainly disagree with anyone trying to claim molten steel is not a liquid.

 

[jian]

Sorry to ask, but are there some posts somewhere I can’t see which are claiming that you need a certain threshold of whatever to be social media to which people are responding? Sorry if they’ve been deleted before I saw them.

 

[SableWyvern]

Sorry to ask, but are there some posts somewhere I can’t see which are claiming that you need a certain threshold of whatever to be social media to which people are responding? Sorry if they’ve been deleted before I saw them.

One poster defines social media as platforms with toxic algorithms, that push engagement via any means, harvest data and are generally unethical. Conversely, any platform that doesn't engage in this kind of nefarious behaviour is, by definition, not social media.

The posts are still there, so there is most likely some blocking going on from one side or the other.

 

[TheSword]

Here in the United States there's no way this wouldn't be a violation of our 1st Amendment rights. Prior to Facebook, my gaming club had a social media account used to advertise our presence and schedule events. Tom Anderson was even our friend.

I’m not a US Consitutional Scholar but you stop kids under 16 being able to do other things that are protected for adults under the constitution? So there are some fundamental rights that are curtailed for minors for safety reasons. You don’t let a 12 year old buy a gun right? Or get married?

Furthermore it’s fine for you to place restrictions on children for things they would otherwise be able to legally as adults. You don’t let kids gamble do you, or smoke?

 

[TheSword]

Predatory algorithms implemented to confuse, enrage, divide, and socially engineer western society?

I agree with you that that is one of the worst aspects to it. Feels like that is one relatively recent addition to social media.

That said, I don’t think that is the only element that is harmful. For instance just the act of putting your carefully selected holiday/body image/dining habits/fashion/makeup/workout pics and videos, presenting a curated (and unrealistic image) to validate how great your life is. Which makes those in your peer group feel crap about theirs is pretty harmful. Even though it has nothing to do with the algorithm.

I also think that a local community could be using the same platform to talk about the local school fete, the fact that the potholes need repairing and that the local village hall is hosting a play. Also social media but not harmful.

Social media is the format. Not the outcome

 

[Cergorach]

Predatory algorithms implemented to confuse, enrage, divide, and socially engineer western society?

Maybe not the algorithms, but moderators and posters do "confuse, enrage, divide, and socially engineer western society". Which might be a good or a bad thing depending on your perspective. What we've always done as humans with each other, either around the campfire, in the newspaper, books, TV, etc. The 'algorithm' is just automation of that process, which doesn't make it in my book, better or worse then humans doing the same.

 

[Belen]

Maybe not the algorithms, but moderators and posters do "confuse, enrage, divide, and socially engineer western society". Which might be a good or a bad thing depending on your perspective. What we've always done as humans with each other, either around the campfire, in the newspaper, books, TV, etc. The 'algorithm' is just automation of that process, which doesn't make it in my book, better or worse then humans doing the same.

Humans have the ability to grow and change. The algorithm looks at what you read and gives you more of it. If you read an article with a slant, it gives you more of that slant. It leads you down a rabbit hole reinforcing that slant until you can no longer recognize that a slant exists. You now get to live in a bubble created for you by a program used to make money off you.

A human just does not have the time to make that happen.

No mod is making sure to personalize my experience on a board.