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Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

foreignpolicy.com

21–30 of 192 posts

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#21

Facebook has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single company being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by the government.

I'm afraid it won't work well without extra regulation laws. Even if Facebook is broken, it has shown the way. Before, it was MySpace (although it was never so popular). If someone breaks FB, the strongest competitor living in its shadow will step up.

I think it is the nature of certain services to centralize. Search engines, social networks. Unless someone forces them to inter-operate, it's winner takes all.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#22

Facebook has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single company being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by the government.

Would you apply the same logic to government?

Government has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single government being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by market forces.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#23
post #20
post #7

My idea for a quick fix is to remove likes/dislikes/emoji reactions. If people can't see how others feel about a post/article in an instant, they might have to read and decide for themselves how to feel.

I upvoted this comment and then immediately felt dirty.

To be fair, HN hides a comment score until the user decides to see it.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#24
post #7

My idea for a quick fix is to remove likes/dislikes/emoji reactions. If people can't see how others feel about a post/article in an instant, they might have to read and decide for themselves how to feel.

It's clickbait, it doesn't matter if they click like it not

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#25

Facebook has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single company being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by the government.

I don't understand why do you think that.

The biggest problem of big companies is when they hurt consumers with predatory practices.

With Facebook I fail to see how that's the case. Everybody is perfectly capable of not being hurt by their own accord by just no using it.

If the problem is how it influences politics and government, I think that's even a point against letting the government mess with it, as it is a power that can be easily misused by the party in power.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#27
post #7

My idea for a quick fix is to remove likes/dislikes/emoji reactions. If people can't see how others feel about a post/article in an instant, they might have to read and decide for themselves how to feel.

Upvotes on HN/Reddit do essentially the same thing. I don't have the user statistics, but I'd imagine the typical HN reader only reads a sampling of the top-voted comments, which essentially allows them "to see how others feel about a post/article in an instant."

If you want an example of the opposite approach, you can always look at 2009-era YouTube, when all comments shown were in a strict "newest" order. If you remember, YouTube had a bit of reputation for some of the lowest-quality comment sections anywhere.

There simply is no "quick fix" for clickbait, aside from altering basic human psychology, or some type of (probably complex) regulation.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#28
post #22

Facebook has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single company being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by the government.

Would you apply the same logic to government? Government has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single government being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by market forces.

Part of me (my young revolutionary part) is libertarian so yes I would say government is to be broken down.

To be more precise in regards to your question. I want to live in the world where internet and social networks are businesses that don't rely on the government good will.

I would prefer there to be no great firewall of China and the great firewall of US and Europe as it is forming right now.

I know that is a losing battle. But we should fight for internet being a place without nationalistic restrictions that is able to operate without corrupt people in power being able to force their worldview upon us.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#29
post #7

My idea for a quick fix is to remove likes/dislikes/emoji reactions. If people can't see how others feel about a post/article in an instant, they might have to read and decide for themselves how to feel.

My idea for a permanent fix is for Facebook to go out of business. Completely. Forever.

Re: Facebook Can’t Cope with the World It’s Created

#30
post #22

Facebook has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single company being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by the government.

Would you apply the same logic to government? Government has to be broken down to pieces. I think it has reached a state where it cannot be allowed to continue as a single government being able to observe/monitor public and private communication / social interaction of so many people and not being regulated and controlled by market forces.

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