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Instead of "blasting" how about regulating it? Social media has proven time and again they are unwilling to do the right thing. They perform human experimenta

Instead of "blasting" how about regulating it? Social media has proven time and again they are unwilling to do the right thing. They perform human experimentation and must be regulated for public safety. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/06/28/facebook-manipulated-689003-users-emotions-for-science/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/06/28/facebook... It is an on going activity.

astockwell 5y ago
This. “Senators blast” everyone under the sun. Do something.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
burlesona 5y ago
The challenge is what, exactly, to regulate. Here are some ideas: Ban algorithmic content curation. If a product is going to have a "featured" section or "watch next" or whatever, that should have to come from a human editor who can be held accountable for their choices. This would force huge changes in a lot of services, but ultimately I think we've learned that engagement algorithms drive toxic feedback loops and echo chambers that their creators are not proud of. This outcome in inherent to any function that maximizes engagement, so we just have to stop. Ban one-bit reactions; ie. no like buttons that get people addicted to the high of "crowd approval." Just allow comments. Ban ad-targeting based on any protected class (age, race, gender). Make those requirements kick in for any app with greater than $10M ARR or 50,000 DAU.
- paxys 5y ago
  Or, how about we do none of these things and people who don't like social media just don't freaking use it.
paxys 5y ago
"Regulate" is everyone's magic word, but how exactly do they do it? What laws should they pass?
JumpCrisscross 5y ago
> Instead of "blasting" how about regulating it? How do you suppose that happens? First you need fact finding, which happens in the background, and soundboarding, which is what this is. It looks like a circus, because it, in part, sort of is. The Senate is gauging to what degree the public cares about this. If prioritizing this issue will bring them votes when they go to campaign on it.
livueta 5y ago
You mean giving them exactly what they're after? https://mobile.twitter.com/kateo/status/1306071764741558275 https://mobile.twitter.com/kateo/status/1306071764741558275 (sorry for the source; couldn't get a digital version of the ad since they don't appear to serve it online) They've been buying full-page ads to this effect in the print edition of the Economist for years now. Given that they clearly believe that they'll be able to steer any such regulation into being a competitive advantage, I'd really rather explore other avenues. e: my personal nightmare is Facebook-as-regulated-utility: all of the evil the existing corporation exerts, plus no chance that it'll ever naturally go the way of myspace. I'm not ideologically opposed to all regulation ever anywhere, just deeply concerned that any regulation we see in this space will move us closer to that particular cyberpunk dystopia.

astockwell 5y ago

This. “Senators blast” everyone under the sun. Do something.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

burlesona 5y ago

The challenge is what, exactly, to regulate. Here are some ideas: Ban algorithmic content curation. If a product is going to have a "featured" section or "watch next" or whatever, that should have to come from a human editor who can be held accountable for their choices. This would force huge changes in a lot of services, but ultimately I think we've learned that engagement algorithms drive toxic feedback loops and echo chambers that their creators are not proud of. This outcome in inherent to any function that maximizes engagement, so we just have to stop. Ban one-bit reactions; ie. no like buttons that get people addicted to the high of "crowd approval." Just allow comments. Ban ad-targeting based on any protected class (age, race, gender). Make those requirements kick in for any app with greater than $10M ARR or 50,000 DAU.

paxys 5y ago
Or, how about we do none of these things and people who don't like social media just don't freaking use it.

paxys 5y ago

"Regulate" is everyone's magic word, but how exactly do they do it? What laws should they pass?

JumpCrisscross 5y ago

> Instead of "blasting" how about regulating it? How do you suppose that happens? First you need fact finding, which happens in the background, and soundboarding, which is what this is. It looks like a circus, because it, in part, sort of is. The Senate is gauging to what degree the public cares about this. If prioritizing this issue will bring them votes when they go to campaign on it.

livueta 5y ago

You mean giving them exactly what they're after? https://mobile.twitter.com/kateo/status/1306071764741558275 https://mobile.twitter.com/kateo/status/1306071764741558275 (sorry for the source; couldn't get a digital version of the ad since they don't appear to serve it online) They've been buying full-page ads to this effect in the print edition of the Economist for years now. Given that they clearly believe that they'll be able to steer any such regulation into being a competitive advantage, I'd really rather explore other avenues. e: my personal nightmare is Facebook-as-regulated-utility: all of the evil the existing corporation exerts, plus no chance that it'll ever naturally go the way of myspace. I'm not ideologically opposed to all regulation ever anywhere, just deeply concerned that any regulation we see in this space will move us closer to that particular cyberpunk dystopia.