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Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own bullshit that we fail to realize that the average Facebook user has no idea what "decentralized" means; nor cares that

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own bullshit that we fail to realize that the average Facebook user has no idea what "decentralized" means; nor cares that their personal data is being sold. This is another example of faux outrage that will pass with the next news cycle.

the-dude 9y ago
A whole new spin on a databreach/dataselling : Don't worry, we just decentralized your data!
bausshf 9y ago
Another thing is that this will only appeal to people who are generally tech-minded and not the average joe who uses social media. Most people who uses social media etc. doesn't want to download a lot of things, access should be fairly easy and painless without some sort of "guide", which is what I can see as the downfall for this "social network"
- bovermyer 9y ago
  When I nuked my Facebook account I didn't bother finding a replacement. The harder problem (for me) to solve is how to build up weak ties outside of social media.
- chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
  It's more to do with convenience. It was more convenient (and cheaper) to just get Napster / Limewire / Soul Seek / other p2p sharing app and download music than buy it online. In the beginning it was a tech-minded group, but the software got better and easier... and the communities grew. In short order it was not only tech-minded people who did this en-masse. If a platform is convenient for people to do X, it has a good change of also being popular.
fwdpropaganda 9y ago
"No one cares that their personal data is being sold" is a HN talking point. A lot of people care. Example: In the EU so many people care that legistators are taking measures to protect the people. Perhaps it's just the people around you that don't care...?
- codyswann 9y ago
  "A lot" of people also think the world is flat. Let's be specific here. I would say 90% or more of Facebook users couldn't care less if their data is sold to advertisers. I'm one of those people. Tell me why I should care. The same thing happens with loyalty cards at Walgreens. It's the people on Facebook that make Facebook trash, not Facebook itself. As for your "legistators" (sic), that is the faux outrage I'm talking about. That's the name of game in politics. 1) Something happens. 2) The media tells people they should get outraged about it 3) People get outraged about it 4) Legislation is enacted to appease the outrage 5) Something else happens. 6) People move on to getting outraged about that.
  - chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
    "A lot" of people also think the world is flat. Not really.
    - codyswann 9y ago
      More people believe the world is flat than know what a "decentralized social network" is.
      - chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
        More people know what Ben & Jerry's ice-cream is than understand how a touchscreen works. What's your point?
      - fwdpropaganda 9y ago
        Changing goalposts. chrstphrknwtn was responding to your comment on privacy and now you changed to talking about decentralized social networks. Quote: > I would say 90% or more of Facebook users couldn't care less if their data is sold to advertisers. So, changing goalposts.
        codyswann 9y ago
        How am I changing goalposts? I'm making the point that "a lot" is a throwaway term. It's like saying a car is "very fast." Well, compared to a jet, a car is not fast at all. Also, "a lot" means something different to me than it does to you. So saying "a lot" of people do or believe anything is meaningless.
chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
Leaving aside "an average facebook user" (which is just an average person really), and weather they understand what decentralised means, I believe most people would care if they were aware of why the data is sold. If you said to someone "I'm going to collect information about you whether you like it or not, and then sell it to someone who wants to manipulate your thinking", then I suspect they wouldn't be so keen on the data being collected (let alone sold) in the first place.
- codyswann 9y ago
  And yet if you said "Or you can pay me directly to use this service," how do you think people would respond? And you literally just described the profession of marketing. So if you replaced the inflammatory phrase "manipulate your thinking" with "market toward you", I think they'd be totally fine with it. I mean, why else do you "Like" something on Facebook anyway unless you want other people to know that you like it?
  - chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
    Well, your whole argument seems to be based on what ill-informed people will tolerate, not was is ethical. I agree marketing is intended to manipulate your thinking... or "market towards you". I suspect I have a different attitude about marketing than you do. I don't use facebook, I used for a week in 2007, and thought "this is just a marketing data machine, no thanks". Further, the innocuous sounding "Connecting the world" mission doesn't equate to "monitor your social interactions and help people convince you to buy things" (amongst other things) in most people's minds.
    - codyswann 9y ago
      I'm very well informed and I'm 100% ok with Facebook using whatever data I put on it. The fact that some people choose to remain uninformed about what Facebook is doing with the data that these people willfully give them is on those people. What is ethical in this situation is personal to you, so you can't make a blanket statement that marketing is or not ethical. Again, to me, it's perfectly ethical, but I'm a big believer in personal responsibility. As you said, you signed up, saw what Facebook was about and bailed. That's called personal choice, and it's a wonderful thing.

the-dude 9y ago

A whole new spin on a databreach/dataselling : Don't worry, we just decentralized your data!

bausshf 9y ago

Another thing is that this will only appeal to people who are generally tech-minded and not the average joe who uses social media. Most people who uses social media etc. doesn't want to download a lot of things, access should be fairly easy and painless without some sort of "guide", which is what I can see as the downfall for this "social network"

bovermyer 9y ago
When I nuked my Facebook account I didn't bother finding a replacement. The harder problem (for me) to solve is how to build up weak ties outside of social media.
chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
It's more to do with convenience. It was more convenient (and cheaper) to just get Napster / Limewire / Soul Seek / other p2p sharing app and download music than buy it online. In the beginning it was a tech-minded group, but the software got better and easier... and the communities grew. In short order it was not only tech-minded people who did this en-masse. If a platform is convenient for people to do X, it has a good change of also being popular.

fwdpropaganda 9y ago

"No one cares that their personal data is being sold" is a HN talking point. A lot of people care. Example: In the EU so many people care that legistators are taking measures to protect the people. Perhaps it's just the people around you that don't care...?

codyswann 9y ago
"A lot" of people also think the world is flat. Let's be specific here. I would say 90% or more of Facebook users couldn't care less if their data is sold to advertisers. I'm one of those people. Tell me why I should care. The same thing happens with loyalty cards at Walgreens. It's the people on Facebook that make Facebook trash, not Facebook itself. As for your "legistators" (sic), that is the faux outrage I'm talking about. That's the name of game in politics. 1) Something happens. 2) The media tells people they should get outraged about it 3) People get outraged about it 4) Legislation is enacted to appease the outrage 5) Something else happens. 6) People move on to getting outraged about that.
- chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
  "A lot" of people also think the world is flat. Not really.
  - codyswann 9y ago
    More people believe the world is flat than know what a "decentralized social network" is.
    - chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
      More people know what Ben & Jerry's ice-cream is than understand how a touchscreen works. What's your point?
    - fwdpropaganda 9y ago
      Changing goalposts. chrstphrknwtn was responding to your comment on privacy and now you changed to talking about decentralized social networks. Quote: > I would say 90% or more of Facebook users couldn't care less if their data is sold to advertisers. So, changing goalposts.
      - codyswann 9y ago
        How am I changing goalposts? I'm making the point that "a lot" is a throwaway term. It's like saying a car is "very fast." Well, compared to a jet, a car is not fast at all. Also, "a lot" means something different to me than it does to you. So saying "a lot" of people do or believe anything is meaningless.

chrstphrknwtn 9y ago

Leaving aside "an average facebook user" (which is just an average person really), and weather they understand what decentralised means, I believe most people would care if they were aware of why the data is sold. If you said to someone "I'm going to collect information about you whether you like it or not, and then sell it to someone who wants to manipulate your thinking", then I suspect they wouldn't be so keen on the data being collected (let alone sold) in the first place.

codyswann 9y ago
And yet if you said "Or you can pay me directly to use this service," how do you think people would respond? And you literally just described the profession of marketing. So if you replaced the inflammatory phrase "manipulate your thinking" with "market toward you", I think they'd be totally fine with it. I mean, why else do you "Like" something on Facebook anyway unless you want other people to know that you like it?
- chrstphrknwtn 9y ago
  Well, your whole argument seems to be based on what ill-informed people will tolerate, not was is ethical. I agree marketing is intended to manipulate your thinking... or "market towards you". I suspect I have a different attitude about marketing than you do. I don't use facebook, I used for a week in 2007, and thought "this is just a marketing data machine, no thanks". Further, the innocuous sounding "Connecting the world" mission doesn't equate to "monitor your social interactions and help people convince you to buy things" (amongst other things) in most people's minds.
  - codyswann 9y ago
    I'm very well informed and I'm 100% ok with Facebook using whatever data I put on it. The fact that some people choose to remain uninformed about what Facebook is doing with the data that these people willfully give them is on those people. What is ethical in this situation is personal to you, so you can't make a blanket statement that marketing is or not ethical. Again, to me, it's perfectly ethical, but I'm a big believer in personal responsibility. As you said, you signed up, saw what Facebook was about and bailed. That's called personal choice, and it's a wonderful thing.