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Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

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Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#241

Post by snarf21 »

tuna-piano wrote: post #133

There's an unsolved conundrum I haven't heard mentioned yet. After the 2016 election, there was a thought that too much false information is spreading on social media. This happens in every country and across every form of communication - but social media platforms seem particularly worrysome (and is particularly bad with Whatsapp forwards in some Asian countries). So what should the social media companies do? Censor…

To be fair, this isn't a new problem. Historically, newspapers had a similar control. It is interesting because most people want to be in an echo chamber. We as humans long to belong. We don't want to be completely wrong. Newspapers mitigated this by having multiple layers of editorial control and attempting to only put people in control who value truth, although that isn't absolute. The difference with Twitter is that anyone can spew anything and to large audiences and the network effect is huge. Back in the day, a newspaper printing garbage in Tulsa probably had no influence in Seattle. That is no longer the case.

The interesting thing that I think Jack Dorsey should respond directly to Trump's tweet about regulation is "I'm sorry you no longer find Twitter useful. Feel free to use a competitor's product." The main reason that the social networks haven't clamped down is that they need the eyeballs and controversial figures generate a lot on both sides (hate/love).

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#242

Post by cwperkins »

Its evident to me that our strategy to combat misinformation is not going great at the moment. I've been on Reddit for over 13 years and the site has gone through many changes.

What if we changed our thinking from removing/flagging bad content to fostering rich discourse?

I'll use r/politics for example, I currently do not think there is productive or rich discourse being had there. If you have had a different experience please let me know.

I think for the political arena it would do us good to try to emulate the US House of Representatives where representatives are given equal time to address the floor. In this way you will be exposed to other perspectives. The ways we can achieve this are similar to the approach NYT has taken to comments. You can still sort comments by most recommended, but there are also "Featured Comments". Featured Comments are chosen by a team at NYT, presumably from ideologically diverse perspectives, and they choose comments that are insightful and rich in information without toxicity. Does anyone else think that would be a good idea?

I think its important because I truly believe Americans are far more alike then different and just about everyone feels like they are under attack or have been violated. Its time to heal and listen and understand that we are in it together and the people that we really should be castigating are the people filled with prejudice to the point where they have shut themselves off from hearing other perspectives. I believe there is a vast middle in the USA, but its currently getting drowned out and it should have a louder voice.

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#243

Post by freen »

itchyjunk wrote: post #151

Hm, is fact checking solved problem? I remember someone here had their game flagged just because it referenced SARS-CoV-2. I hear almost daily horror stories of youtube algo's screwing up content creator. As a human, I still struggle a lot to read a paper and figure out what I just read. On top of that, things like the GPT2 from OpenAI might generate very human like comment. Is there no way to consider social media a…

What is truth anyway?

You say you are a person, I say you are a banana. Who are you to dispute my facts?

So strange that the right has decided to cargo-cult the worst bits of post-modernism.

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#245

Post by SuperFerret »

exabrial wrote: post #205

I once got a strike on social media for posting an article about a German doctor that recommended whiskey to cure covid19. It was a joke, and any reasonable adult would know this is false. It's hard for me to feel sorry for companies that go down the fact checking route with algorithms; It always ends up causing more damage than value. 12 years ago we didn't have this problem, and I think that's mostly related to the…

I'm sure Trump was just joking!

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#246

Post by nerdkid93 »

dvtrn wrote: post #146
tuna-piano wrote: post #133

There's an unsolved conundrum I haven't heard mentioned yet. After the 2016 election, there was a thought that too much false information is spreading on social media. This happens in every country and across every form of communication - but social media platforms seem particularly worrysome (and is particularly bad with Whatsapp forwards in some Asian countries). So what should the social media companies do? Censor…

Media literacy and criticism classes in middle school?

1,000 times yes! In elementary and middle school, I had weekly learning from our school librarian on seeking the truth through a consensus of multiple sources. She taught us how to properly use Wikipedia as a source for finding other sources.

Crash Course (the YouTube channel) published a short series last year on Navigating Digital Information (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtN07XYqqWSK...). I really appreciated its pointers for how to deal with social media.

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#247

Post by Wowfunhappy »

jdhn wrote: post #124

Putting aside concerns about overreach government powers, would ending social media as we know it really be a bad thing?

I could do without Facebook and Twitter, but what counts as social media? Does Stack Exchange count? Hacker News? Email?

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#249

Post by threatofrain »

Traster wrote: post #36

I think this is going to be a discussion thread that is almost inevitably going to be a shitshow, but anyway: There are people who advocate the idea that private companies should be compelled to distribute hate speech, dangerously factually incorrect information and harassment under the concept that free speech is should be applied universally rather than just to government. I don't agree, I think it's a vast over-re…

I feel that because web tech advanced more quickly than much of society, a vacuum of power developed and Google was forced to step in. If Google had its way, it wouldn't police any content and it would illegally host HBO shows like Game of Thrones -- when you try to hold them responsible, Google would pass off all burden to the offending individual. That's how YouTube used to run.

Other industries have things like the FCC or the FDA where companies can say, "Look, we did our due diligence, the FDA approved our drug."

Re: Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

#250

Post by orian »

jcroll wrote: post #232
gjulianm wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is there no way to consider social media as unreliable overall and not bother fact checking anything there? The issue is that this is not just a random social media post, it's coming from the President of the US, and most people expect that someone in that position will not post clearly false messages, specially when those messages affect something as fundamental as the election process.

Democratic elections are supposed to be the failsafe for that no?

Nope, they only provide a peaceful way to replace the man in charge instead bloodbath.
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