3 ms·
Just to answer that point: people (academically) look at whether it is a good idea to match similar people, what such a social structure means and how preferenc
by zwaps 5y ago
Just to answer that point: people (academically) look at whether it is a good idea to match similar people, what such a social structure means and how preferences for homophily, imposed or intrinsic, may affect the social structure.
Do social media websites do think about it? I am sure some of then have. But then, their goals typically differ vastly from what you would consider good for society.
- rl3 5y agoThanks for this. Admittedly my tone was somewhat hyperbolistic, but you bring up an excellent point that I'd like to build off: It pains me to think there's large bodies of deep academic research in the social sciences that could guide certain tech platforms in a much more responsible direction. Instead, the drive for market domination and profit ensures that a mangled society is left in their wake (ironically, economics is also a social science). The hubris certain tech leaders have in making the decisions they do astounds me. Virtually every major tech platform has the money to have a veritable army of social scientists pondering the ethics of anything that company does with its platform. Certainly some of these companies do employ ethicists, though I can't help but feel more often than not it's a dog and pony show.