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>Now imagine if this played out the other way around. Imagine that the monsters originally focused on maximizing energy by making children laugh as much as poss
by alexb_ 4y ago
>Now imagine if this played out the other way around. Imagine that the monsters originally focused on maximizing energy by making children laugh as much as possible. Then one day, in a horrible twist, someone discovers that a child’s scream was a much easier and more powerful way of meeting their goals. Their company, which built a platform that gave them instant access to children around the world, suddenly realizes that they could reach their goals by spreading fear rather than joy.
Then they would instantly start using screams? Nobody making business decisions in social media companies will prioritize "user happiness" over increased production of their main product (your attention) for their customers (advertisers).
- egypturnash 4y agoCongratulation, you grasped the intent of that analogy!
- alexb_ 4y agoMaybe I'm reading the intent wrong, but no social media company will ever take this suggestion. This line in particular: >Let’s bring this back to community building. We still want our members to be happy, right? If it doesn't make them more money... no they don't!
- mhall119 4y agoThat's why it also says "Community isn’t social media." No social media company is going to do this, you are correct. But community managers and community-led companies absolutely should.
- catherd 4y agoSome will and some won't. In the absence of rules that penalize that type of behavior, usually the ones that will end up winning. It has nothing to do with morals, those just seem to be the rules of the game as we currently play it.