5 ms·

Social media companies are megacorporations. Not just that even among the megacorps they are 2nd to big pharma in terms of lobbying budgets. You call social m

Social media companies are megacorporations. Not just that even among the megacorps they are 2nd to big pharma in terms of lobbying budgets. You call social media the megaphone of the protests, but when Trump went to threaten the protesters “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” he did it on social media.

Nasrudith 6y ago
It isn't exclusive but it is deeply disingenuous to say it isn't their megaphone. That it can be used Trump to post doesn't subtract from it being the medium depend upon it. But unlike Trump who can give press releases, speeches to the nation, and press conferences essentially any time he wants the people lack that reach.
- leereeves 6y ago
  The people don't really have that reach. Social media companies decide what messages are allowed, so only people the companies agree with have any reach on the platforms. In effect, social media users are just acting as speechwriters for the companies' political views. They submit comments, and mods chosen by the company decide which comments are published. Or sometimes the company simply bans particular viewpoints. What gets published on social media is increasingly company approved just like any other company's public messaging.
  - aspenmayer 6y ago
    > In effect, social media users are just acting as speechwriters for the companies' political views. Well, since you brought it up, which speeches of yours did you take this comment from, and who are you writing those speeches for? Whose agenda do your words subtly lend support to?
    - leereeves 6y ago
      You're taking the metaphor too literally, but to answer the second part: in this thread I'm lending support to the 72% of Americans who think social media companies have too much political influence. My agenda is simply that they should take a more hands off approach. The number of anti-cancel-culture posts on HN, as well as a post about "aggressive conformity" on HN right now by the founder of HN, suggest that HN has a similar agenda, so I suppose I am simply adding content that supports the company's position.
- throwaway_kufu 6y ago
  > It isn't exclusive but it is deeply disingenuous to say it isn't their megaphone. That’s your opinion, obviously people took to the streets because social media can be ignored And minimized but people in the streets can’t be ignored. I’ll return the favor to say social media is the protestors megaphone over the streets is deeply disingenuous...see how easy it is to speak past each other online, good luck with that in the street

Nasrudith 6y ago

It isn't exclusive but it is deeply disingenuous to say it isn't their megaphone. That it can be used Trump to post doesn't subtract from it being the medium depend upon it. But unlike Trump who can give press releases, speeches to the nation, and press conferences essentially any time he wants the people lack that reach.

leereeves 6y ago
The people don't really have that reach. Social media companies decide what messages are allowed, so only people the companies agree with have any reach on the platforms. In effect, social media users are just acting as speechwriters for the companies' political views. They submit comments, and mods chosen by the company decide which comments are published. Or sometimes the company simply bans particular viewpoints. What gets published on social media is increasingly company approved just like any other company's public messaging.
- aspenmayer 6y ago
  > In effect, social media users are just acting as speechwriters for the companies' political views. Well, since you brought it up, which speeches of yours did you take this comment from, and who are you writing those speeches for? Whose agenda do your words subtly lend support to?
  - leereeves 6y ago
    You're taking the metaphor too literally, but to answer the second part: in this thread I'm lending support to the 72% of Americans who think social media companies have too much political influence. My agenda is simply that they should take a more hands off approach. The number of anti-cancel-culture posts on HN, as well as a post about "aggressive conformity" on HN right now by the founder of HN, suggest that HN has a similar agenda, so I suppose I am simply adding content that supports the company's position.
throwaway_kufu 6y ago
> It isn't exclusive but it is deeply disingenuous to say it isn't their megaphone. That’s your opinion, obviously people took to the streets because social media can be ignored And minimized but people in the streets can’t be ignored. I’ll return the favor to say social media is the protestors megaphone over the streets is deeply disingenuous...see how easy it is to speak past each other online, good luck with that in the street