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Posting anything deeper than dank memes & news seems futile, when The Algorithm decides who can see your post. If they want people to make better content, they

by nikanj 9y ago

Posting anything deeper than dank memes & news seems futile, when The Algorithm decides who can see your post. If they want people to make better content, they need to start figuring out why people feel like their better content gets no audience.

danudey 9y ago
There was an article that I can't find for the life of me about how someone suffering with depression had killed himself, and it was only a long time afterwards that any friends friends knew because Facebook hadn't been showing his posts. IIRC they looked through his feed and there had been basically cries for help, but no one had seem them because Facebook was prioritizing engagement and not personal content. How many other people are trying to reach out on Facebook, thinking that no one cares, when the reality is that no one even sees?
- banku_brougham 9y ago
  This looks like a dark and completely likely situation
  - whateveruser 9y ago
    Fortunately for me, it didn't go that far. But I know that feeling, because I've been there. I cut off facebook after a pretty low point in my life, and to this day, it has been the best decision I ever made.
- DashRattlesnake 9y ago
  > someone suffering with depression had killed himself, and it was only a long time afterwards that any friends friends knew because Facebook hadn't been showing his posts. > IIRC they looked through his feed and there had been basically cries for help, but no one had seem them because Facebook was prioritizing engagement and not personal content. Don't worry! Facebook is working on an AI to detect such posts and refer the suicidal users to help! No need to bring his friends down with his negativity and decrease their engagement! /s I wish I was joking: https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/28/16709224/facebook-suicidal-thoughts-ai-help https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/28/16709224/facebook-suicid.... Social networks like Facebook have contributed to a big rise in depression, but instead of course correcting, we get buzzword tech band-aids.
  - philipov 9y ago
    If you want to sell glass, better go break some windows.
- B0btheBuilder 9y ago
  "A friend of mine died and I didn't know because of algorithms": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15956811 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15956811
- thecatspaw 9y ago
  this reads like a black mirror episode
robryan 9y ago
Ideally everyone on your friends list would see your post. If they no longer care for them they can either unfriend or hide your posts.
- taylorexpander 9y ago
  That’s a silly take. I’ve hidden friends before who I have close relationships with, simply because the content they post is trash: - reshares of “inspirational” and “motivational” memes - post frequency too high - constantly posting pictures of their kids - unfortunately a close aunt is into MLM and I can’t just unfriend her without causing drama - generally only posting things I don’t care for enough to see like guns, cars, etc Like, just because we are friends, doesn’t mean we have to share the same interests nor does it mean I want to hear everything you have to say on every topic.

by nikanj 9y ago

danudey 9y ago

There was an article that I can't find for the life of me about how someone suffering with depression had killed himself, and it was only a long time afterwards that any friends friends knew because Facebook hadn't been showing his posts. IIRC they looked through his feed and there had been basically cries for help, but no one had seem them because Facebook was prioritizing engagement and not personal content. How many other people are trying to reach out on Facebook, thinking that no one cares, when the reality is that no one even sees?

banku_brougham 9y ago
This looks like a dark and completely likely situation
- whateveruser 9y ago
  Fortunately for me, it didn't go that far. But I know that feeling, because I've been there. I cut off facebook after a pretty low point in my life, and to this day, it has been the best decision I ever made.
DashRattlesnake 9y ago
> someone suffering with depression had killed himself, and it was only a long time afterwards that any friends friends knew because Facebook hadn't been showing his posts. > IIRC they looked through his feed and there had been basically cries for help, but no one had seem them because Facebook was prioritizing engagement and not personal content. Don't worry! Facebook is working on an AI to detect such posts and refer the suicidal users to help! No need to bring his friends down with his negativity and decrease their engagement! /s I wish I was joking: https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/28/16709224/facebook-suicidal-thoughts-ai-help https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/28/16709224/facebook-suicid.... Social networks like Facebook have contributed to a big rise in depression, but instead of course correcting, we get buzzword tech band-aids.
- philipov 9y ago
  If you want to sell glass, better go break some windows.
B0btheBuilder 9y ago
"A friend of mine died and I didn't know because of algorithms": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15956811 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15956811
thecatspaw 9y ago
this reads like a black mirror episode

robryan 9y ago

Ideally everyone on your friends list would see your post. If they no longer care for them they can either unfriend or hide your posts.

taylorexpander 9y ago
That’s a silly take. I’ve hidden friends before who I have close relationships with, simply because the content they post is trash: - reshares of “inspirational” and “motivational” memes - post frequency too high - constantly posting pictures of their kids - unfortunately a close aunt is into MLM and I can’t just unfriend her without causing drama - generally only posting things I don’t care for enough to see like guns, cars, etc Like, just because we are friends, doesn’t mean we have to share the same interests nor does it mean I want to hear everything you have to say on every topic.