4 ms·

I still don't understand how the one of the most intelligent minds in Silicon Valley work for Facebook to make sure people click ads. Can they work on real prob

I still don't understand how the one of the most intelligent minds in Silicon Valley work for Facebook to make sure people click ads. Can they work on real problems like the ones Bill Gates foundation is working on? No, non-profitable enough

Thorrez 7y ago
Facebook makes money. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative spends money. Microsoft makes money. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spends money. It's a bit strange to compare Mark Zuckerberg's money making organization to Bill Gate's money spending organization.
- mlurp 7y ago
  I don't have any love for Microsoft, but they at least have a handful of objectively useful products that probably make the world a little better. Pretty much all the research I've heard about social media indicates that it makes the world worse. So I think it is relevant.
  - quelltext 7y ago
    That's interesting. I just don't think there has been any research into holistically evaluating social networks. AFAIK studies mostly focus on small parts often with the premise to find something negative (e.g. effect of seeing other feeds with success stories). Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it.
    - Thorrez 7y ago
      > Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it. Sure, but it could still be overall harmful. E.g. gambling, drugs, smoking.
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
    - saberience 7y ago
      "Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it." That doesn't follow at all. When I used to use Facebook it was based on an addictive compulsion but each time I used I realized it made my mood worse. My life got better when I stopped using the platform.
JDiculous 7y ago
Because Facebook pays a lot more money and hire more people. If Bill Gates would pay me six figures to end poverty, I'd quit engineering and take him up on that offer. Unfortunately I have student loans to pay off.

Thorrez 7y ago

Facebook makes money. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative spends money. Microsoft makes money. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spends money. It's a bit strange to compare Mark Zuckerberg's money making organization to Bill Gate's money spending organization.

mlurp 7y ago
I don't have any love for Microsoft, but they at least have a handful of objectively useful products that probably make the world a little better. Pretty much all the research I've heard about social media indicates that it makes the world worse. So I think it is relevant.
- quelltext 7y ago
  That's interesting. I just don't think there has been any research into holistically evaluating social networks. AFAIK studies mostly focus on small parts often with the premise to find something negative (e.g. effect of seeing other feeds with success stories). Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it.
  - Thorrez 7y ago
    > Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it. Sure, but it could still be overall harmful. E.g. gambling, drugs, smoking.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - saberience 7y ago
    "Obviously a lot of people do in fact derive pleasure and some other benefits or they wouldn't keep using it." That doesn't follow at all. When I used to use Facebook it was based on an addictive compulsion but each time I used I realized it made my mood worse. My life got better when I stopped using the platform.

JDiculous 7y ago

Because Facebook pays a lot more money and hire more people. If Bill Gates would pay me six figures to end poverty, I'd quit engineering and take him up on that offer. Unfortunately I have student loans to pay off.