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Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

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Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#2
> When a Utah county accidentally sent out 13,000 absentee ballots without a signature line, the NewsGuard Red-rated site LawEnforcementToday.com called this a "cheat-by-mail scheme."

This isn't a Facebook problem as such. It's just sensationalistic journalism. Just that Facebook as a platform helps amplfiy it. Just my 2 cents.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#3
See also [0], for some reporting on how Facebook delivers disinformation to the largest, most gullible voting bloc: the elderly.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24932881

It's amazing how links I post to other HN subs always wind up with -1 karma; never positive, never zero, never -2. Always -1. I'm sure that's totally and completely organic.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#4
post #2

> When a Utah county accidentally sent out 13,000 absentee ballots without a signature line, the NewsGuard Red-rated site LawEnforcementToday.com called this a "cheat-by-mail scheme." This isn't a Facebook problem as such. It's just sensationalistic journalism. Just that Facebook as a platform helps amplfiy it. Just my 2 cents.

The algorithm is designed to propagate misinformation like crazy because that's what drives engagement and improves Facebook's metrics.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#5
Facebook needs to be nationalized and regulated as a public utility. It's outrageous that this hasn't already happened. How much more election meddling do they need to get away with before everyone understands that this is necessary?

At this stage, all remaining Facebook investors are deeply immoral individuals. All the reasonable moral individuals have already cashed out. The government should just screw over the remaining shareholders. They deserve it.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#6
post #4
post #2

> When a Utah county accidentally sent out 13,000 absentee ballots without a signature line, the NewsGuard Red-rated site LawEnforcementToday.com called this a "cheat-by-mail scheme." This isn't a Facebook problem as such. It's just sensationalistic journalism. Just that Facebook as a platform helps amplfiy it. Just my 2 cents.

The algorithm is designed to propagate misinformation like crazy because that's what drives engagement and improves Facebook's metrics.

Come on, you know it's not true that it's designed to propagate misinformation. The algorithm can't even tell whether it's misinformation or not.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#7
One thing I still don’t quite understand is how a system like this one can develop when the people developing it almost certainly are completely opposed to these ideas on a personal political level.

I almost feel like it was an excess of idealism and belief in “the free market of ideas” -as well as the idea that Facebook should remain a neutral party at all cost- that led to overcompensating in the wrong direction, and the current situation.

Re: Facebook Is a 'Super Spreader' of Election Misinformation

#8
post #2

> When a Utah county accidentally sent out 13,000 absentee ballots without a signature line, the NewsGuard Red-rated site LawEnforcementToday.com called this a "cheat-by-mail scheme." This isn't a Facebook problem as such. It's just sensationalistic journalism. Just that Facebook as a platform helps amplfiy it. Just my 2 cents.

It's symptomatic of all platforms who rely on UGC at scale, and the business model goes on the assumption that it can't be moderated. I mean, it goes without saying how much copyrighted content sits on YouTube, Facebook et al.

The fact the platform(s) generates revenue from this situation doesn't sit well with me.

I'd agree it's not a problem exclusive to Facebook, but a handful of platforms.

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