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I don’t deny that these companies do some good, but we should look at the totality of their output, not focus on the few good things they do. I am having a hard

I don’t deny that these companies do some good, but we should look at the totality of their output, not focus on the few good things they do. I am having a hard time objectively saying these companies are a net good for society. The existence of other communication mediums does not absolve Facebook and others of their role in consolidating the major communication mediums into their portfolio. A bunch of (mostly) white, male millennial Americans should not be controlling the worlds communication. And I say this as a millennial. I don’t quite understand why people’s concern over Facebook centralizing and controlling communication for the entire world (and censoring it) is somehow hysteria or an overreaction.

ThomPete 8y ago
I would say they are a net good unquestionably, in fact, I have a hard time seeing what exactly the net "bad" should be based on. Like everything in this world, everything has to be done in balance. Some people can't deal with alcohol and become alcoholics, some people can't deal with gambling and become ludomanics etc. but most people have perfectly fine and balanced relationships. People can choose not to use these mediums and they do so. Every kind of progress goes through a phase of maturation where we learn about the positive and negative sides and adjust over time to it. Social media is a reflection of humans and it will always amplify the negative sides as well as (luckily) the positive sides.
sjroot 8y ago
> I don’t deny that these companies do some good, but we should look at the totality of their output, not focus on the few good things they do. I am having a hard time objectively saying these companies are a net good for society. What about their efforts to diversify their (very well-paid) workforce? Helping connect families and friends living across the world, particularly during natural disasters or other emergencies? All of the research they have done and shared with the world at top conferences? > The existence of other communication mediums does not absolve Facebook and others of their role in consolidating the major communication mediums into their portfolio. A bunch of (mostly) white, male millennial Americans should not be controlling the worlds communication. And I say this as a millennial. Is it any different from any other major media organization that exists today? > I don’t quite understand why people’s concern over Facebook centralizing and controlling communication for the entire world (and censoring it) is somehow hysteria or an overreaction. I definitely think people should be concerned. I think that we should make an effort to make more people concerned. I just think that having the government impose restrictions on Facebook (because too many people enjoy the benefits I described above) might not be the best approach to this problem.

ThomPete 8y ago

I would say they are a net good unquestionably, in fact, I have a hard time seeing what exactly the net "bad" should be based on. Like everything in this world, everything has to be done in balance. Some people can't deal with alcohol and become alcoholics, some people can't deal with gambling and become ludomanics etc. but most people have perfectly fine and balanced relationships. People can choose not to use these mediums and they do so. Every kind of progress goes through a phase of maturation where we learn about the positive and negative sides and adjust over time to it. Social media is a reflection of humans and it will always amplify the negative sides as well as (luckily) the positive sides.

sjroot 8y ago

> I don’t deny that these companies do some good, but we should look at the totality of their output, not focus on the few good things they do. I am having a hard time objectively saying these companies are a net good for society. What about their efforts to diversify their (very well-paid) workforce? Helping connect families and friends living across the world, particularly during natural disasters or other emergencies? All of the research they have done and shared with the world at top conferences? > The existence of other communication mediums does not absolve Facebook and others of their role in consolidating the major communication mediums into their portfolio. A bunch of (mostly) white, male millennial Americans should not be controlling the worlds communication. And I say this as a millennial. Is it any different from any other major media organization that exists today? > I don’t quite understand why people’s concern over Facebook centralizing and controlling communication for the entire world (and censoring it) is somehow hysteria or an overreaction. I definitely think people should be concerned. I think that we should make an effort to make more people concerned. I just think that having the government impose restrictions on Facebook (because too many people enjoy the benefits I described above) might not be the best approach to this problem.