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Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

nytimes.com

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Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#201

Post by moate »

basetop wrote: post #19

Why just facebook? Why not Amazon, Google, JPM, Disney, etc? "Chris Hughes, a co-founder of Facebook, says the company is so big and powerful that it threatens our democracy." "threatens our democracy". I've heard this talking point so much that it has no meaning any longer. It's just another of the oft-repeated talking point created by PR firms as part of a propaganda campaign. If facebook is truly that powerful tha…

Could be that he's calling out the company he has in-depth knowledge about before those others specifically because he understands it the best.

Also, it's more impactful for someone to say "the thing I've created has become a monster" than "the thing that's in direct financial competition with the thing I created is a monster" because it doesn't feel like misdirection. It feels more honest.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#202

Post by yifanl »

mrfusion wrote: post #49
kerkeslager wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, increasingly, you are forced to use Facebook. I went through the arduous process of deleting my Facebook account about 8 years ago. 2 years ago, I started doing freelance software development, and at some point almost every one of my clients has wanted me to implement a Facebook login. I could say no, but then I'm likely losing my livelihood. And in order to implement Facebook logins, you need a Facebook accoun…

How is marketplace better than craigslist?

All of facebook's utility comes from its exceptionally strong network.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#203

Post by nindalf »

tremon wrote: post #188
stickfigure wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you suggesting that there be an API to access social network information? That is literally what Facebook had, and what people excoriate them over thanks to Cambridge Analytica. The Facebook haters are driving social network data into a silo; how else are you going to "keep control of your data"? You can have privacy (or at least the illusion of privacy), or you can have access. You cannot have both.

This sounds to me like a backwards argument. The Cambridge Analytica scandal revolved around unsanctioned access to data. I don't think the premise of having an API was the problem, it was the lack of transparency and control offered to Facebook's users.

Does your data about your date of birth belong to you or to both you and your friends? Ostensibly, it's very personal information, hence only to you. Right now you can set the visibility of your birthday on facebook so you control exactly who sees it. If you set it to private, no one can see it. But supposing you set it to "Friends", would you be ok with your friends downloading this data and keeping a copy for themselves? They'd do that because they'd think it's "their" data, which should remain accessible even if they left Facebook.

I can see arguments both ways. Some folks would be ok with it (they're your friends) and others wouldn't (you can't change the privacy setting on data that's already been downloaded).

Similarly with friends list. A person's list of friends is probably "their" data, even if it has your name on it. Would you be ok with them downloading this information?

The trade-off between control of some users and the privacy of other users is a complex issue. Let's not pretend there are simple answers to this.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#204

Post by Scene_Cast2 »

solipsism wrote: post #187
HNthrow22 wrote: post #123

FB is the sacrificial lamb, popular scapegoat and effective distraction in this new era of SV policies shaping public opinion, ideas and as a result global politics. It seems misplaced, the amount of vitriol and negative press directed at facebook when from my perspective Google/Twitter/Amazon and even Reddit are far, far worse in terms of aggressively monopolistic behavior and negative effects on society and democra…

If you believe it, say it from your real account. This ubiquitous practice of commenting on contentious topics using throwaways reveals much of that's wrong with HN culture.

The grandparent comment was insightful to me.

At the same time, there is a large (20%-80%), vocal, and powerful fraction of tech employees that strongly and idealistically oppose that "SV policies [are] shaping public opinion", or that it's a potentially bad thing and not something we should strive for.

I see why someone would hesitate making that comment from their primary account.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#205

Post by baby »

lefstathiou wrote: post #35

I found this piece very unconvincing. Where is the articulate and data supported argument that our democracy is under threat? Are people no longer voting? No, they are voting in droves. People of all ages are more politically charged than ever before. I’m seeing 10 year olds engaging in our democracy. To me it is becoming increasingly apparent that the issue here is that people aren’t voting for the issues the NYT an…

FWIW I agree with your comment. It is sad that it is getting downvoted. But this kind of thread is more of a crowd lynching rather than a place for discussions.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#206

Post by kerkeslager »

zaroth wrote: post #80
kerkeslager wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You are not forced to be software developer. Do you really not see the problem with suggesting people switch careers every time an overbearing corporation starts exerting excessive control over their industry?

Except that’s not what’s happened in the anecdote above, at all. Facebook provides services that people want to use, like Login, or that provides real value better than the competitors (Marketplace). Complaining that you “have” to use Marketplace because things sell faster on it is totally bizarre.

> Facebook provides services that people want to use, like Login, or that provides real value better than the competitors (Marketplace).

That's almost always true of monopolistic practices, so I don't see your point.

> Complaining that you “have” to use Marketplace because things sell faster on it is totally bizarre.

If things can't be sold quickly, they often can't be sold at all. There's no place to store this stuff if it can't be sold fairly quickly, as the properties are usually being sold.

Maybe you're rich enough to turn down money, but a lot of people "have to" work for money.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#207

Post by sctb »

kantos2 wrote: post #110
kerkeslager wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You are not forced to be software developer. Do you really not see the problem with suggesting people switch careers every time an overbearing corporation starts exerting excessive control over their industry?

Because there is not problem. People choose fb auth because it's convenient to them. You babycrying about "i can't be developer because client want me to use FB technologies" Is fucking pathetic Grow up

We've banned this account. If you'd like to post according to guidelines you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#209

Post by sgustard »

jmastrangelo wrote: post #149

While we're discussing Facebook and anticompetitive practices, I'd like to bring the effects of FANG/Unicorns and their current compensation. I think we are seeing a drop in people leaving established tech to startups, but I think most of this is due to the _ludicrous_ amount of money an engineer/PM can make being a 9-5er at one FB/G. Engineers who meet expectations and get promoted at the minimum allowed rate can be…

At least you're paid well to contribute to the destruction of privacy, fair elections and human rights.

Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook

#210

Post by stvswn »

This is Chris Hughes trading on the only credibility he has left, which is that he participated in Facebook as an undergad and Harvard (but never quit school to pursue it full-time), amd by virtue of luck and his early contributions gets the status as "Facebook cofounder." His real ambition has been to become a figure in liberal politics. He bought The New Republic as a vanity project and drove it into the ground in two years. He and his husband moved to NY so that his husband could run for office in a purple district, he lost in a landslide (in a winnable district, too).

It's popular in liberal circles to blame Facebook for Trump, and so punishing them has become a cause celebre, but it will pass.

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