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I've been arguing with a friend of mine at Facebook about this. He's unrepentant, thinks it's just advertising and it is fine. I disagree, it's an advertising

I've been arguing with a friend of mine at Facebook about this. He's unrepentant, thinks it's just advertising and it is fine. I disagree, it's an advertising machine that is constantly looking over your shoulder and it reinforces whatever bubble you happen to be in. Here's a snippet of an email I sent him in this morning: Can you see how your attitude, if shared by the leaders at Facebook, is exactly why Facebook should get regulated? It's a my way or the highway, take no prisoners approach, and yeah, that will bring regulation. If your attitude was more like "yeah, I get it, it's a little creepy, we're trying to figure out a way to have a business model that works and isn't creepy" then perhaps you'd get to regulate yourself. The problem is that the lawmakers are clueless, you may well get some stupid draconian regulation that you really don't want. If that happens, you are going to look back at these emails and go "welp, we blew it, this is our fault".

TAForObvReasons 8y ago
> No one from Silicon Valley was held accountable … This is the crux of the problem. Until there's any sort of real accountability, the problems described in the article will persist. We can't expect anyone to act ethically or care about anything other than profits out of their own volition. It unfortunately has to be through regulations and punishment.
- Phenomenit 8y ago
  It feels like lately no one that has some money and power is held accountable for anything in the US.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - _jal 8y ago
    Yep. I can't rationally explain why I feel this way, but I feel like that might be changing a little. The #MeToo things seems like a fore-shock of sorts. Some very large names, and possibly institutions, appear to be about to tumble under their corruption.
michaelcampbell 8y ago
> If that happens, you are going to look back at these emails and go "welp, we blew it, this is our fault". That seems unlikely, if history is any guide.

TAForObvReasons 8y ago

> No one from Silicon Valley was held accountable … This is the crux of the problem. Until there's any sort of real accountability, the problems described in the article will persist. We can't expect anyone to act ethically or care about anything other than profits out of their own volition. It unfortunately has to be through regulations and punishment.

Phenomenit 8y ago
It feels like lately no one that has some money and power is held accountable for anything in the US.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- _jal 8y ago
  Yep. I can't rationally explain why I feel this way, but I feel like that might be changing a little. The #MeToo things seems like a fore-shock of sorts. Some very large names, and possibly institutions, appear to be about to tumble under their corruption.

michaelcampbell 8y ago

> If that happens, you are going to look back at these emails and go "welp, we blew it, this is our fault". That seems unlikely, if history is any guide.