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Humans are social in so far as they derive benefit from society. But they have always resented society to varying degrees. In the past, people's resentment was

Humans are social in so far as they derive benefit from society. But they have always resented society to varying degrees. In the past, people's resentment was mostly expressed in casual ways because a society tends to suppress crazy behaviour. But the social media business profits from this social resentment.

hilbert42 4y ago
Right, social media is the updated form of sensational headlines selling newspapers. And such headlines have always played on difference, resentment and moral values. And the more glaring and outrageous they are the more business profits from them. This is a serious issue for society to resolve, especially given the clear evidence that many people cannot distinguish sensationalism from fact and are thus influenced by it. Given the billions of dollars profit involved and the social media addiction problem it has to be one of the most intractable problems of our age to solve. But solve it we must.
- heresie-dabord 4y ago
  > many people cannot distinguish sensationalism from fact and are thus influenced by it. People are generally punished throughout their lives for being ignorant. But lack of comprehension is sometimes feigned. Some people test the tolerance of their behaviour. The existence of propanda is at once a difficult problem and a profitable problem. There is no bright side to propaganda. In cases where people are materially punished for their bad behaviour, they shut up and pay attention. I think it likely that future social-media business will require user accounts to have verified identities and users to accept responsibility by risking direct, personal financial loss for their behaviour. People may call this tyranny, but in fact it's how society works despite their resentment.
  - hilbert42 4y ago
    Exactly. That's better expressed and more comprehensive than my comment.

hilbert42 4y ago

Right, social media is the updated form of sensational headlines selling newspapers. And such headlines have always played on difference, resentment and moral values. And the more glaring and outrageous they are the more business profits from them. This is a serious issue for society to resolve, especially given the clear evidence that many people cannot distinguish sensationalism from fact and are thus influenced by it. Given the billions of dollars profit involved and the social media addiction problem it has to be one of the most intractable problems of our age to solve. But solve it we must.

heresie-dabord 4y ago
> many people cannot distinguish sensationalism from fact and are thus influenced by it. People are generally punished throughout their lives for being ignorant. But lack of comprehension is sometimes feigned. Some people test the tolerance of their behaviour. The existence of propanda is at once a difficult problem and a profitable problem. There is no bright side to propaganda. In cases where people are materially punished for their bad behaviour, they shut up and pay attention. I think it likely that future social-media business will require user accounts to have verified identities and users to accept responsibility by risking direct, personal financial loss for their behaviour. People may call this tyranny, but in fact it's how society works despite their resentment.
- hilbert42 4y ago
  Exactly. That's better expressed and more comprehensive than my comment.