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> You're looking at this from a western perspective. Some non-western countries are entirely linked by Facebook products. When Facebook went down last week, som

> You're looking at this from a western perspective. Some non-western countries are entirely linked by Facebook products. When Facebook went down last week, some people couldn't access their BANKS. You OK with that? I'm not ok with that at all however I would guess that those decisions are being reevaluated as we speak! >That's what Facebook wants: to become something you simply MUST use to survive. But if you choose not to use the platform they will never have the power to make that happen. Anyone in power would be tempted to make themselves indispensable. It is a very human thing and let's not forget how flawed we all are. >We need legislation to stop Facebook creep, because that "creep" eventually makes it mandatory. You just move the power from Facebook to the government, it doesn't solve the core problem.

SavantIdiot 5y ago
> But if you choose not to use the platform they will never have the power It is far too late for that. Facebook is too big. I'm guessing you don't know that there are countries in the world where Facebook is the only internet, am I right? Free Basic is a service that they offered with free internet in poor countries, but Facebook is the only internet. It has changed a little as governments have realized this is a problem but it is still the dominant form of internet in some places. There are 2.8 billion monthly users, but only 200 million are from the US, yet it is a US company. [1] > You just move the power from Facebook to the government, it doesn't solve the core problem. You are assuming Facebook and the government are the same thing. (US I presume.) They are not the same. A government isn't a corporation. This is a totally different discussion. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-based-on-number-of-facebook-users/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-...
- greenail 5y ago
  >You are assuming Facebook and the government are the same thing. (US I presume.) They are not the same. A government isn't a corporation. This is a totally different discussion. I'm saying that social media is a form of power. If you take control from Facebook and regulate it (give the power to the government) you are simply just shift the power from one potential abuser to another.
  - SavantIdiot 5y ago
    Anyone can abuse power. A government can be changed by the people. Like I said, this is a different discussion. If you're coming to the discussion that cynical about government already, there's not much I can say.
verve_rat 5y ago
It is much easier to change the "CEO" of the US Government than it is to change the CEO of Facebook.

SavantIdiot 5y ago

> But if you choose not to use the platform they will never have the power It is far too late for that. Facebook is too big. I'm guessing you don't know that there are countries in the world where Facebook is the only internet, am I right? Free Basic is a service that they offered with free internet in poor countries, but Facebook is the only internet. It has changed a little as governments have realized this is a problem but it is still the dominant form of internet in some places. There are 2.8 billion monthly users, but only 200 million are from the US, yet it is a US company. [1] > You just move the power from Facebook to the government, it doesn't solve the core problem. You are assuming Facebook and the government are the same thing. (US I presume.) They are not the same. A government isn't a corporation. This is a totally different discussion. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-based-on-number-of-facebook-users/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-...

greenail 5y ago
>You are assuming Facebook and the government are the same thing. (US I presume.) They are not the same. A government isn't a corporation. This is a totally different discussion. I'm saying that social media is a form of power. If you take control from Facebook and regulate it (give the power to the government) you are simply just shift the power from one potential abuser to another.
- SavantIdiot 5y ago
  Anyone can abuse power. A government can be changed by the people. Like I said, this is a different discussion. If you're coming to the discussion that cynical about government already, there's not much I can say.

verve_rat 5y ago

It is much easier to change the "CEO" of the US Government than it is to change the CEO of Facebook.