Live data from Hacker News

Facebook under fire over secret teen research

bbc.co.uk

61–70 of 226 posts

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#61

I wonder if they'll start taking a don't ask don't tell (e.g. simply stop doing research) approach due to these leaks. No other social media company is actually studying this so why take all the heat?

Seems like the obvious conclusion. This is far from the first time Facebook has faced outrage over research they've done. They shut down their analytics page that the top ten on facebook twitter account was using because that lead to outrage too.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#62
A parallel between Facebook and Big Tobacco had never occurred to me until I read this:

> In a move straight out of big tobacco's playbook, Facebook downplayed the negative effects of its product and hid this research from the public and even from members of Congress who specifically asked for it

What would our world be like if it were illegal to have a social media account until you were 21 years old? Interesting to think about.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#63
post #28
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Someone’s gonna get the money, it might as well be me. Ethics are disappointingly rare in Software. Such a shame.

Or people don't share your views on ethics.

I'd be interested in seeing which set of ethical values helps someone reconcile the two notions of "I'm not a bad person" and "I directly enable human rights abuses on a scale never-before-seen in human history;" or, otherwise, which perspective a person can take that doesn't commit them to the second notion (precluding fundamentally self-deceptive perspectives, such as willful ignorance).

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#64

We may have to come together as a society and deem these social media apps as being a harm to society, especially the youth. Perhaps even age restrict them like alcohol, gambling, etc.

I think they all realize that the real harm comes from misinformation, whether it's fake news, anti-vax, or unrealistic expectations. They've been quite good at self-regulation so far, likely to prevent governments from stepping in.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

they enable communication for 3 billion people on the scale not previously seen in the history of mankind?

WHy is that good? Seems like it just leads to 13% of teenagers just wanting to kill themselves.

Why is anything good objectively? It is good for me because I can stay connected with my mom despite living in different country. Also facebook group for my town is nice and useful, and my wife enjoys posting in instagram from our trips.

Now multiply this by several billions.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#66
post #62

A parallel between Facebook and Big Tobacco had never occurred to me until I read this: > In a move straight out of big tobacco's playbook, Facebook downplayed the negative effects of its product and hid this research from the public and even from members of Congress who specifically asked for it What would our world be like if it were illegal to have a social media account until you were 21 years old? Interesting to…

I wonder if this happened, would teenagers would be upset or relieved? There's a This American Life episode[1] in which several teenage girls explain the complex etiquette of Instagram. It sounds stressful, it sounds exhausting, it sounds like a full time job. Right now, anyone who opts out also excludes themselves from a major aspect of school social life.

1. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/573/transcript

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

they enable communication for 3 billion people on the scale not previously seen in the history of mankind?

WHy is that good? Seems like it just leads to 13% of teenagers just wanting to kill themselves.

Their machinery is ridiculously effective. My Uber driver the other day was Afghan. He talked to his family fleeing their country via Messenger.

Ubiquitous universal communication. It is the stuff of utopian sci fi.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#68

Such a shame Facebook is considered a prestigious place to work. Sure, you can become a millionaire, but at what cost? Is this what you imagined you would do as a kid interested in math/computers/science?

> Such a shame Facebook is considered a prestigious place to work. Is it? It’s not my industry but I haven’t got that impression from reading threads here.

There is frankly a whole self-flagellatory thing going there. Plus well, selection bias is everywhere. People post more about complaints.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#69
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like money. Not at Facebook but would join if I was looking again. Someone’s gonna get the money, it might as well be me.

>Someone’s gonna get the money, it might as well be me. Ethics are disappointingly rare in Software. Such a shame.

yet surprising cs education requires you to take a ethics course. It should be called a morals course. But their are no morals or ethics in the real world. Its all about how much money you can make and its all about greed.

Re: Facebook under fire over secret teen research

#70

Such a shame Facebook is considered a prestigious place to work. Sure, you can become a millionaire, but at what cost? Is this what you imagined you would do as a kid interested in math/computers/science?

I like money. Not at Facebook but would join if I was looking again. Someone’s gonna get the money, it might as well be me.

> Someone’s gonna get the money, it might as well be me.

This line can defend anything people compete to be paid for, which should be a pretty clear sign that it's not a good line of reasoning.

Post reply on HN