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Is HN classified as “social media”? Geniune question.

• squigz 3y ago
  By definition, I would say yes, as are platforms like Discord. Most people seem to disagree; it seems that to most people, a platform needs to be particularly popular for it to be lumped in with Big Social Media when it comes to stuff like this... Not too sure what the exact number is though
• nytesky 3y ago
  I participate in a lightly moderated anonymous parenting message board, and many agree it is similar to social media in engendering those unhealthy emotions. I definitely feel HN falls in that category, maybe even old school newsgroups and Reddit. There were definitely flame wars going back to the 90s, so bad behavior has a long history even before Facebook (or MySpace or Friendster).
• ilrwbwrkhv 3y ago
  It is and it can inflame you if you let it. But two very important distinctions: 1. there is no algorithm which learns what you like and keeps showing you that and 2. no infinite scroll.
  • 15457345234 3y ago
    The issue with social media is precisely that the algorithms do _not_ 'learn what you like' They either learn what irritates you, and show you that, or they show you something that's designed to achieve an overall agenda, including but not limited to genocide, ethnic cleansing, strife, conflict etc.
• qgin 3y ago
  I will say HN is a site that I regularly use my /etc/hosts file to block myself from accessing to take breaks. The prevailing vibe of HN is eminently logical but punishingly severe and kinda depressive. But then there’s also a lot of discussion of interesting topics and that makes it hard to stay away.