Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings • Hacker News Board

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#301

Post by FloNeu » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:04 PM UTC

ashelmire wrote: post #293

wpasc wrote: post #285

First, I think what happened with Facebook/Cambridge Analytica is appalling. With that said, I think this article is silly and emblematic of poor technology coverage in the media. I think it would be awesome if users really did delete their facebook accounts if they thought these actions crossed some line. But the article cites ~50,000 #deletefacebook mentions. Come on, 50k hashtag shares is evidence of "Users Abando…

Who do you think would give us that data? Facebook? Doubtful. I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action (active tweeters are just a small subset of the population) or are at least thinking about reducing usage or deleting. Deleting facebook has been a topic of conversation in my circle for months since I did it ~4 months ago or so. It's definitely…

ROFL - yeah right... Because after the I international shitstorm about the '13 reasons why'(correct name of the show?) a million teenagers jumped of a clive... Whenever someone tries to argue/sell anything with hashtag/google-search statistics I have the perfect counter argument... This is no-proof of anything and you are a moron if you don't get why...

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#302

Post by pizza234 » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:05 PM UTC

ashelmire wrote: post #293

wpasc wrote: post #285

First, I think what happened with Facebook/Cambridge Analytica is appalling. With that said, I think this article is silly and emblematic of poor technology coverage in the media. I think it would be awesome if users really did delete their facebook accounts if they thought these actions crossed some line. But the article cites ~50,000 #deletefacebook mentions. Come on, 50k hashtag shares is evidence of "Users Abando…

Who do you think would give us that data? Facebook? Doubtful. I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action (active tweeters are just a small subset of the population) or are at least thinking about reducing usage or deleting. Deleting facebook has been a topic of conversation in my circle for months since I did it ~4 months ago or so. It's definitely…

> I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action

I don't really think it's reasonable to make any extrapolation, as there are also opposite arguments.

A brief search on the hashtag shows that most of it's typical "social stuff" - sarcastic remarks, jokes, pictures etc.

Also, I also wouldn't take what social users says as action. There's always been the meme of "I'M GOING TO LEAVE FACEBOOK...!!!", yet Facebook kept growing. Rather, I'd assume it's very typical rage venting.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#303

Post by hvass » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:05 PM UTC

This article will have merit if it was posted after their next earnings call and there was a percentage decline in users. This is all anecdotal and speculation. Habits are the hardest thing to break. And 50,000 people, even if US-only, are a rounding error for their MAU/DAUs. C'mon, NYT.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#304

Post by coatmatter » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:08 PM UTC

wpasc wrote: post #285

First, I think what happened with Facebook/Cambridge Analytica is appalling. With that said, I think this article is silly and emblematic of poor technology coverage in the media. I think it would be awesome if users really did delete their facebook accounts if they thought these actions crossed some line. But the article cites ~50,000 #deletefacebook mentions. Come on, 50k hashtag shares is evidence of "Users Abando…

The headline I'm seeing for the article as of 20180322T1509Z is "For Many Facebook Users, a ‘Last Straw’ That Led Them to Quit" (different to the one posted here - I don't know if it was changed at nytimes).

Not everyone needs to delete Facebook - only a sufficient number of "core" users whom others look up to need to stop using it. That alone can cripple a network or sub-network. Remember that the number of users that C.A. pulled from wasn't that huge of a number so network effects can work both ways (consider Snapchat and several recent celebrity disendorsements, for example).

The easiest way for most to start "deleting" is by deactivating. Do an experiment: deactivate for a week and see what's the worst that can happen. It can always be undone.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#305

Post by zerostar07 » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:15 PM UTC

ashelmire wrote: post #293

wpasc wrote: post #285

First, I think what happened with Facebook/Cambridge Analytica is appalling. With that said, I think this article is silly and emblematic of poor technology coverage in the media. I think it would be awesome if users really did delete their facebook accounts if they thought these actions crossed some line. But the article cites ~50,000 #deletefacebook mentions. Come on, 50k hashtag shares is evidence of "Users Abando…

Who do you think would give us that data? Facebook? Doubtful. I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action (active tweeters are just a small subset of the population) or are at least thinking about reducing usage or deleting. Deleting facebook has been a topic of conversation in my circle for months since I did it ~4 months ago or so. It's definitely…

People who run apps dependent on facebook can immediately see any significant change. Basically any website that receives the bulk of their traffic from FB.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#306

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:16 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#307

Post by 0xCMP » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:20 PM UTC

pizza234 wrote: post #302

ashelmire wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who do you think would give us that data? Facebook? Doubtful. I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action (active tweeters are just a small subset of the population) or are at least thinking about reducing usage or deleting. Deleting facebook has been a topic of conversation in my circle for months since I did it ~4 months ago or so. It's definitely…

> I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action I don't really think it's reasonable to make any extrapolation, as there are also opposite arguments. A brief search on the hashtag shows that most of it's typical "social stuff" - sarcastic remarks, jokes, pictures etc. Also, I also wouldn't take what social users says as action. There's always been the…

Exactly. How many articles have I, and others on this site, written with the same words. Even if we had written and published it, many of us would have simply deactivated it or decided to stop visiting.

Few actually follow through and delete.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#308

Post by ballenf » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:22 PM UTC

pizza234 wrote: post #302

ashelmire wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who do you think would give us that data? Facebook? Doubtful. I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action (active tweeters are just a small subset of the population) or are at least thinking about reducing usage or deleting. Deleting facebook has been a topic of conversation in my circle for months since I did it ~4 months ago or so. It's definitely…

> I think it's reasonable to assume that if 50k people tweeted about it, a far larger number probably took action I don't really think it's reasonable to make any extrapolation, as there are also opposite arguments. A brief search on the hashtag shows that most of it's typical "social stuff" - sarcastic remarks, jokes, pictures etc. Also, I also wouldn't take what social users says as action. There's always been the…

Some recent hard data is the analysis of the #deleteUber campaign and market share in NYC of rideshare services. The data showed a dip that was swallowed (erased) by broad, gradual shifts within a few months. It was a recent front page HN story, but don't remember the title. I think it will take no more than a few million in a nationwide ad campaign running on TV to more than erase any #deleteFB campaign. That is, these campaigns cost the targets $$, but don't really fundamentally alter their trajectory (regulation could be a different story entirely).

The other thing in FB's favor here is how incredibly difficult it is for an average user to actually delete, vs. suspend, their FB account. I helped a non-techie friend with it recently and it took about 45 minutes. It wouldn't accept the user's password for deletion even though it worked to login. After 2-3 password changes, it finally worked.

(As most here know the actual account deletion page is hidden behind a barely visible link in ... a locked filing cabinet in the basement, guarded by a venomous snake...)

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#309

Post by ilkan » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:22 PM UTC

wpasc wrote: post #285

First, I think what happened with Facebook/Cambridge Analytica is appalling. With that said, I think this article is silly and emblematic of poor technology coverage in the media. I think it would be awesome if users really did delete their facebook accounts if they thought these actions crossed some line. But the article cites ~50,000 #deletefacebook mentions. Come on, 50k hashtag shares is evidence of "Users Abando…

I hope the following perspective helps with your question. Think of newspapers as a mix of Journalism and blog-type "Content" and this writer as a Content writer. Content ideas are pitched by a writer to the editor, or assigned by the editor to a writer. After it's written, a third person (SEO expert) adds the headline. This article looks like Content filling out an idea rather than Journalism uncovering a story.

Re: Users Abandon Facebook After Cambridge Analytica Findings

#310

Post by FabHK » Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 3:26 PM UTC

jjuel wrote: post #272

cyberferret wrote: post #13

The question is - will this be just a minor blip to Facebook and then normal services will resume after the indignation wears off? Or will it the beginning of the end of the social media dominance of the platform? For me personally, I use FB primarily to keep in touch with friends, family and old colleagues who are spread all over the world. It is purely a contact tool, and not really used to market products of servi…

I mean do we really think Facebook is the only company with data problems? Is switching to something different really going to make a difference? Deleting your Facebook won't get rid of your data. Google, Microsoft, Twitter, your ISP, your cell carrier all have so much data on you. At this point you are out there in someone's database somewhere. Unless you haven't been on the grid at all which clearly anyone on HN is…

1. Agreed, private action is not enough, public (political) action (as happened in the EU) is needed in addition.

2. Having said that, spreading the awareness of this problem (as people are doing with this hashtag/campaign) is a good thing.

3. Maybe you can't avoid being in some database, but you can be in fewer databases with less information, and make it harder to aggregate all the information about you.

4. What do you suggest, resigned fatalism? Of course, you can do something. Avoid Google products, avoid Facebook, use a VPN, avoid tracking cookies, etc. - there's a ton you can do. Use different emails for different purposes, for example.

5. If enough people start caring about this, then companies will (have to) take note.