51–60 of 79 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Hopefully people are leaving FB because of their toxic "political discussions" (more like insult-flinging)... If that were the case, reddit should be suffering the same mass exodus plight but - it seems to me - that people (predominantly in the states) revel in that sort of behaviour.
One could argue that the anonymity of Reddit in addition to the mods encourages a civil discussion
But again, most facebook users don't even think about that kund of issues, so it might work.
What happens when, say, Iran wants and - legally - requests the identities of everyone that supports the "Democracy in Iran" group?
I don't think facebook is very used in Iran, at least it was blocked in 2015. The interesting question is what happens when Turkey asks for the members of a "justice for unfairly sacked teachers" petition, or Saudi Arabia asking for the supporters of the local "End discrimination of Shia" petition.
This does seem like something of a hostage to fortune, I can't imagine how they intend to moderate it. Obviously people are going to poll their echo-chamber in support of toxic ideas. Even more alarming for Facebook, what if their polls come to be seen as having legitimate democratic force - what Government is going to be comfortable with that? I suspect a dogmatic belief in the goodness of Facebook triumphed over re…
People are going to poll their connections in support of all kinds of ideas. Some of those ideas will be perceived as toxic by some while some others will be perceived as toxic by others. I think that it's a strange idea to argue against collaboration with the argument that everyone can do it. As if there were something immoral in providing unmoderated collaboration. I'm sharing your second criticism though. The feat…
One problem is that it will be impossible to know if a Facebook poll is representative; most likely it will not be, and will instead be taken mostly by people who already have similar views to the author of the poll.
However, the polls may help convince users their views are actually mainstream (even if the "mainstream media" is ignoring them). Such users may feel free to take an even more extreme position if they believe their current views are actually about average. This is one mechanism Cass Sunstein has identified for driving extremism is groups.
Voting isn't intrinsically democratic or empowering for voters - North Korea has elections. Presenting informed people with meaningful choices is what matters.
> Community Actions could unite neighbors to request change from their local and national elected officials and government agencies. But it could also provide vocal interest groups a bully pulpit from which to pressure politicians and bureaucrats with their fringe agendas. Or, hot take here, Facebook really doesn't care too much what the petitions are about, but is mostly interested in gathering more data on its user…
I’m predicting they will acquire change.org
I've given up on the idea that political engagement on social media can make society better. It seems to be a one-way ratchet toward political extremism, because it encourages people to immerse themselves in communities that respond with adulation whenever someone sinks deeper into their ideological wing and respond with cold silence whenever someone hesitates or questions the wing's narrative. In case this isn't alr…
There is a name for it, it's called virtue signaling
I've given up on the idea that political engagement on social media can make society better. It seems to be a one-way ratchet toward political extremism, because it encourages people to immerse themselves in communities that respond with adulation whenever someone sinks deeper into their ideological wing and respond with cold silence whenever someone hesitates or questions the wing's narrative. In case this isn't alr…
The effort is minimal as is the understanding required of the topic or the petition itself.
If anyone starts accepting these petitions as valid expressions of the electorate you can look forward to more Boaty McBoatface-type results.
Plus, myself and a growing number of others are not on Facebook and therefore will not be represented.
It's not the right platform or medium for real political dialogue.
What happens when, say, Iran wants and - legally - requests the identities of everyone that supports the "Democracy in Iran" group?
I'm more concerned about political operatives right here at home who are likely rubbing their hands with glee, as FB gives them the tools to make it easier than ever to drum up online lynch mobs to further poison political discourse.
I'm not even going to mention how much easier this makes it for scammers to find their marks. The guy who collected $20m on Gofundme for 'the wall' comes to mind.
I've given up on the idea that political engagement on social media can make society better. It seems to be a one-way ratchet toward political extremism, because it encourages people to immerse themselves in communities that respond with adulation whenever someone sinks deeper into their ideological wing and respond with cold silence whenever someone hesitates or questions the wing's narrative. In case this isn't alr…
> It seems to be a one-way ratchet toward political extremism, because it encourages people to immerse themselves in communities that respond with adulation whenever someone sinks deeper into their ideological wing It's more nefarious than that. Social media lets you curate not only your message, but who sees and gets to react to your message. Anger is–by far–the most viral emotion. (Second place, if I remember corre…