4 ms·

That is a common social media criticism, "amplify and profit from toxicity". I find the charge vaucous for several reasons. 1. "Give what the numbers say you w

That is a common social media criticism, "amplify and profit from toxicity". I find the charge vaucous for several reasons. 1. "Give what the numbers say you want." or "Maximize profit * area of instance." are what they actually want. Even if it leads to emergent antisocial behavior it is set by results instead of a goal in itself. 2. The charge itself could be applied to any form of media, and yet there is a blatant double standard. If one accused three letter network of it you would get a response of "well duh"! 3. The implicit idea that negativity is a bad thing is outright dangerous, yet clearly promoted by the accusatory tone. Publishing government misconduct also promotes negativity and a publication may profit from it. So does speaking out against injustice. Crude and callous as it may sound, maybe some outright deserve the negativity.

specialist 5y ago
> 2. The charge itself could be applied to any form of media Correct. Zuck, Dorsey, and PageBrin just stole the old guard's lunch money. Just like broadcast toppled print, papyrus displaced clay cuniform. It's an old story. The power elite always seize control of popular communications. Technological progress begets a changing of the guard. > and yet there is a blatant double standard By whom? There is always a resentful cohort moaning about "kids these days". There is always some cranks (like me) performatively rejecting the whole system. Yesterday's Kill Your Television is today's Delete Facebook. While the masses keep plodding along, amusing themselves as able, self medicating, seeking some kind of respite from the never ending sting of the human condition. Moo.