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Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

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Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#91
post #63
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but there isn't really a way for me to leave. You speak as if you have no agency in the situation. But, you do have agency. Using, or not using, facebook is 100%, entirely your choice . There was a happy (happier?) world before 2005, where families shared photos and stayed in touch, without Mark Zuckerberg.

Yes, I have the agency to lose touch with people I care about, because it's not practical for me to convince them all to use a different medium. It is the FB moat. It's real.

So people who don't use facebook aren't in touch with people they care about? There is no moat, only an FB blindfold. It's just a product. If it's not serving you well, drop it. Better ones will arrive faster than we blink.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#92
post #91
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I have the agency to lose touch with people I care about, because it's not practical for me to convince them all to use a different medium. It is the FB moat. It's real.

So people who don't use facebook aren't in touch with people they care about? There is no moat, only an FB blindfold. It's just a product. If it's not serving you well, drop it. Better ones will arrive faster than we blink.

That's just so black and white. I could muster an effort and get some of what I get from FB via other angles, sure. And yes, there are some relatives that aren't on FB, but for me, that's the exception, not the rule.

But it is just so naive to assume I wouldn't miss out on notable pictures and news of people I love by opting out. Facebook does have some value. We're not just purely idiots. We get the trade-off. Hard opting out would have real downsides for me.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#93
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do they profile non-members or even people who've either deactivated their accounts or aren't using them? If I don't log in how does invites affect me? All they could possibly have is my phone number and email. Which aren't exactly private information anyway.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/firm-facebooks-shadow-profiles... Note they‘ve been doing this for a long time (the article is from 2013).

As I mentioned, i don't think we can consider phone number and email address as private data. Everything we use, track those. It also mentions that it was a bug and not intentional. Iphone has leaked far worse things. People seem unfazed when a newer model comes out.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#94
post #79
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding [1], it is possible to opt out of facebook: don't visit websites with Facebook like/share buttons. (This website, for example). When you access a website with facebook tracking installed, you are consenting to being tracked.

I did not consent to being tracked by facebook. Yet websites try again and again to load the facebook like button. As per GDPR, which is in effect but not enforced until May, tracking me without explicitly and clearly asking me if that is okay is not allowed and anything else, like withdrawing service until I agree to be tracked, does not construct consent. When I visit a new website I do not know if they have facebo…

> Yet websites try again and again to load the facebook like button.

Take that up with the websites, not Facebook.

Vast numbers of websites use Google Web Fonts which enables Google to track users. I didn't opt in to that so I just block it.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#95
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding [1], it is possible to opt out of facebook: don't visit websites with Facebook like/share buttons. (This website, for example). When you access a website with facebook tracking installed, you are consenting to being tracked.

>don't VISIT websites with Facebook like/share buttons. So people should know a site uses Facebook share buttons before opening it through Google search. Then, they should keep closing pages until they find the one that don't have share buttons. Then, memorize a list of "safe sites?"

I know this isn't the best solution but uBlock has a list that blocks all social buttons for you. Very easy to install and use.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#96
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding [1], it is possible to opt out of facebook: don't visit websites with Facebook like/share buttons. (This website, for example). When you access a website with facebook tracking installed, you are consenting to being tracked.

When you access a website with facebook tracking installed, you are consenting to being tracked. Sorry, but that's just silly. That's about as if I advise you that when you don't like to be tracked by Facebook then don't use the internet.

Besides, the GDPR is clearly not allowing things like that. It has to be consent given and I have to be aware that I gave consent. It is not ok to use implicit consent. Checkbox or it didn't happen.

Bury it in long legalese isn't accepted either.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using the legislative branch to break apart a competitive business into smaller disconnected pieces isn't a failure from internal crisis / overleverage. > why would that cede leadership to Chinese companies? It cedes leadership because the Chinese companies, modeled after the un-splintered US platforms, have more resources, capability to undertake coordinated action, and can take advantage of greater network effects.

There would be consequences, but I doubt they would be that major. Facebook hasn't really contributed anything of value, other than a platform for people to get tracked mercilessly. FB's business model is based on advertising, and advertising is poison to the mind. But I do think the best solution is very strict privacy regulation, similar to GDPR. The so-called free market has failed to manifest a good solution to p…

I think the modern society has forgotten how it is to not have facebook so if that would be forcefully taken away at this point, there would be a lot of angry people not knowing what to do any more.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#98
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There would be consequences, but I doubt they would be that major. Facebook hasn't really contributed anything of value, other than a platform for people to get tracked mercilessly. FB's business model is based on advertising, and advertising is poison to the mind. But I do think the best solution is very strict privacy regulation, similar to GDPR. The so-called free market has failed to manifest a good solution to p…

I think the modern society has forgotten how it is to not have facebook so if that would be forcefully taken away at this point, there would be a lot of angry people not knowing what to do any more.

Like a band-aid, you either pull it off in one quick go, or in multiple painful small steps.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#99
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did not consent to being tracked by facebook. Yet websites try again and again to load the facebook like button. As per GDPR, which is in effect but not enforced until May, tracking me without explicitly and clearly asking me if that is okay is not allowed and anything else, like withdrawing service until I agree to be tracked, does not construct consent. When I visit a new website I do not know if they have facebo…

> Yet websites try again and again to load the facebook like button. Take that up with the websites, not Facebook. Vast numbers of websites use Google Web Fonts which enables Google to track users. I didn't opt in to that so I just block it.

Yes but technically less inclined users won't block and don't consent to it either.

Visiting a website is not consent for tracking.

Re: Facebook Can’t Be Fixed, It Needs to Be Broken Up

#100
post #73
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Firstly, it is not possible to opt out of facebook. [1] And they do indeed collect private data that we didn't choose to share (shadow accounts, third party website trackers, etc). Facebook have broken "actual laws". There are so many cases were facebook have broken the law. [2] [3] Also, please read up on Fallacy of relative privation ("not as bad as"). [1] https://boingboing.net/2017/11/08/involuntary-profiling.htm…

Regarding [1], it is possible to opt out of facebook: don't visit websites with Facebook like/share buttons. (This website, for example). When you access a website with facebook tracking installed, you are consenting to being tracked.

How would you know a site has those buttons or not unless you visit it first?
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