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Since FB this spring deleted my account since 16 years for no reason (that they would say) I have to my surprise experienced a kind of freedom, a calm serenity.

Since FB this spring deleted my account since 16 years for no reason (that they would say) I have to my surprise experienced a kind of freedom, a calm serenity. After the initial feeling of being insulted and shut out from my circle of friends and family through no fault of mine I have gradually come to realize a few things: 1. there are other, better ways to stay in contact with with people I care about than through group messages and posts (which is actually an insidious sort of indirect messaging when you think about it). 2. as users of these mega-services we are largely like puppets on a string, victims of the latest fads among governments and advertisers. 3. Meta is, and always was, an unethical service that profits off the wide dissemination of our most private information. And profiting off pure scams, for example those that target poor and naive people with promises of untold riches through crypto schemes as testified by various celebrities (that have had their pictures stolen). [0] We are nearing the point where we can, nay should, en masse desert these manipulative megaservices like Meta, Twitter, Youtube et al. They represented a certain phase in the history of internet, and as all things, their hegemonies must come to an end. We can for example willfully trigger the algorithms that shut our accounts down, as it is just about the only statement we are left with. For the sake of our own serene peace of mind if nothing else. [0] https://www.smh.com.au/technology/facebook-pulls-out-all-stops-to-delay-cryptocurrency-scam-case-20220919-p5bj8c.html https://www.smh.com.au/technology/facebook-pulls-out-all-sto...

hulitu 3y ago
> We are nearing the point where we can, nay should, en masse desert these manipulative megaservices like Meta, Twitter, Youtube et al You're right, but, ironically, that's why this new products exists. CIA and NSA needs twitter and when Elon pulled the plug, they just found another provider.
footlose_3815 3y ago
Facebook is a glorified address book. The things we value the most on there are our connections, which is something we've always managed to do before the internet. People clutching their pearls on social media need to stop.
- stirfish 3y ago
  >Facebook is a glorified address book If an address book is a slot machine that dispenses anxiety, shitty memes, and unwanted attention from your worst uncle.
bko 3y ago
That's great and all, but my kids daycare posts photos on a private Facebook channel. Oh and birthday parties come in on Facebook. And I sold stuff on Facebook marketplace that I wasn't able to sell ok craigslist. It's just a useful ubiquitous app. You can use the features you like. I don't see what the point of taking such an absolutist stance decrying the app as evil. Im just trying to raise a few kids, go to some parties and sell some junk around the house
- yakireev 3y ago
  > Im just trying to raise a few kids, go to some parties and sell some junk around the house None of these things should require selling your soul or firstborn rights to Facebook, right? But somehow it does, and we should be angry at this.
  - TheHappyOddish 3y ago
    At whom? You, your friends and family are the ones who chose to make this the method. If most people didn't have Facebook accounts, it wouldn't be the default for these things.

hulitu 3y ago

> We are nearing the point where we can, nay should, en masse desert these manipulative megaservices like Meta, Twitter, Youtube et al You're right, but, ironically, that's why this new products exists. CIA and NSA needs twitter and when Elon pulled the plug, they just found another provider.

footlose_3815 3y ago

Facebook is a glorified address book. The things we value the most on there are our connections, which is something we've always managed to do before the internet. People clutching their pearls on social media need to stop.

stirfish 3y ago
>Facebook is a glorified address book If an address book is a slot machine that dispenses anxiety, shitty memes, and unwanted attention from your worst uncle.

bko 3y ago

That's great and all, but my kids daycare posts photos on a private Facebook channel. Oh and birthday parties come in on Facebook. And I sold stuff on Facebook marketplace that I wasn't able to sell ok craigslist. It's just a useful ubiquitous app. You can use the features you like. I don't see what the point of taking such an absolutist stance decrying the app as evil. Im just trying to raise a few kids, go to some parties and sell some junk around the house

yakireev 3y ago
> Im just trying to raise a few kids, go to some parties and sell some junk around the house None of these things should require selling your soul or firstborn rights to Facebook, right? But somehow it does, and we should be angry at this.
- TheHappyOddish 3y ago
  At whom? You, your friends and family are the ones who chose to make this the method. If most people didn't have Facebook accounts, it wouldn't be the default for these things.