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One of the other big criticisms of Facebook and other social networks is that they're "filter bubbles" which make sure people don't see any information or viewp

by makomk 9y ago

One of the other big criticisms of Facebook and other social networks is that they're "filter bubbles" which make sure people don't see any information or viewpoints from outside their own social circles and perspectives. The main unifying aspect that the "filter bubble" criticism and the "connecting people" criticism seem to have in common is that both involve Facebook taking away some control of the culture from the press, the media, and other powerful groups and giving it to the populace; other than that, they should be contradictory.

organsnyder 9y ago
> ...taking away some control of the culture from the press, the media, and other powerful groups and giving it to the populace; Shouldn't we replace "populace" with "social media networks (via the algorithms they create)" in that sentence?
dragonwriter 9y ago
> The main unifying aspect that the "filter bubble" criticism and the "connecting people" criticism seem to have in common is that both involve Facebook taking away some control of the culture from the press, the media, and other powerful groups and giving it to the populace No, it's giving it to a new powerful group, specifically, Facebook. Just as Stalin stated, “I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how,” so, too, is it true of social media; power doesn't lie with the people who can press “Like” (etc.), it lies with the people who select and continuously tweak based on observed effect the algorithm by which Likes and similar actions are used to shape the flow of information to and between users.
- manjushri 9y ago
  >power doesn't lie with the people who can press “Like” (etc.), it lies with the people who select and continuously tweak based on observed effect the algorithm by which Likes and similar actions are used to shape the flow of information to and between users. Interesting. So no matter how much apparent power is gained by people connecting politically on social media, the "(wo)man behind the curtain" who controls the platform and it's algorithm will by default always be more powerful?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    Yes, if your power comes from someone else and continues only as long as they choose to maintain it, the person directing power to you has the greater power.
ionised 9y ago
Nothing is being given to the populace in this scenario.

by makomk 9y ago

organsnyder 9y ago

> ...taking away some control of the culture from the press, the media, and other powerful groups and giving it to the populace; Shouldn't we replace "populace" with "social media networks (via the algorithms they create)" in that sentence?

dragonwriter 9y ago

> The main unifying aspect that the "filter bubble" criticism and the "connecting people" criticism seem to have in common is that both involve Facebook taking away some control of the culture from the press, the media, and other powerful groups and giving it to the populace No, it's giving it to a new powerful group, specifically, Facebook. Just as Stalin stated, “I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how,” so, too, is it true of social media; power doesn't lie with the people who can press “Like” (etc.), it lies with the people who select and continuously tweak based on observed effect the algorithm by which Likes and similar actions are used to shape the flow of information to and between users.

manjushri 9y ago
>power doesn't lie with the people who can press “Like” (etc.), it lies with the people who select and continuously tweak based on observed effect the algorithm by which Likes and similar actions are used to shape the flow of information to and between users. Interesting. So no matter how much apparent power is gained by people connecting politically on social media, the "(wo)man behind the curtain" who controls the platform and it's algorithm will by default always be more powerful?
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  Yes, if your power comes from someone else and continues only as long as they choose to maintain it, the person directing power to you has the greater power.

ionised 9y ago

Nothing is being given to the populace in this scenario.