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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

#101

Post by pmart123 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #14

It’s time to outlaw stalking-based business models. If you just break up Facebook but don’t outlaw the underlying scummy business model something else will just take its place.

Let's not forgot social media platforms did organize an Egyptian revolt. When there have been natural disasters or terrorist attacks, Facebook has sent notifications to people's friends telling them they are ok. Also, tons of small brands now can exist due to Facebook and Instagram, and these companies can now do so from any location in the country or world.

Facebook is a very metrics driven company, and privacy has been a remote concern for the company. I think they have dug their own grave if they even want to venture into finance or healthcare like Apple is doing. I would not trust Facebook with my health records or bank account. But, Instagram is great for finding vacation ideas and spotting new products or trends. Twitter IMO now often is a much better source of information than the NYTimes. Also, let's not forgot the NYTimes has its own axe to grind here.

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

#102

Post by erwan »

jondubois wrote: post #92

Why is this article not being upvoted more? It's probably the most important piece that has ever been posted to HN; especially considering who the author is.

I don't know for others but personally, I think it's pure hysteria and scapegoating. If you don't like Facebook, don't use it. I don't think private property should be forcibly removed away because it is the current news cycle ennemy-of-the-day. The standards for overruling consent should be extremely high - if they should exist at all.

I got fed up with Facebook a while ago and deleted my account. No problem. If Facebook has influence it is because people voluntarily chose to give it to them.

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

#104

Post by arsenico »

kerkeslager wrote: post #42
ekianjo wrote: post #30

Funny, what do you have to break up something that you are not even forced to use, and that is not even remotely necessary for benefiting from the internet? I must be missing something.

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…

To you - my advice would be to outsource implementation of FB logins. For your girlfriend, and in general, for people looking for odd jobs, it is understandably impossible to avoid the platform.

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

#105

Post by panglott »

dragonwriter wrote: post #91
panglott wrote: post #84

The whole business model of Silicon Valley is finding companies that can grow to become abusive monopolies, and then growing them into that. Cut off one head and two will take its place.

> The whole business model of Silicon Valley The thing you point to is the model for which Capitalism selects, not some local quirk of Silicon Valley.

A lot of the infrastructure of capitalism is oriented around generating and sustaining small- and medium-sized businesses, and while large corporations will always want to increase market power most sectors have antitrust reasons to avoid outright monopoly. The tech sector feels free to aim for monopoly and generate monopoly rents.

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

#106

Post by kantos2 »

shakna wrote: post #69
kantos2 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what?

You can't break up with your stalker. If Facebook is building a data portfolio of you, which is highly likely, then you can't avoid them, which means the problems that arise from the practice still impact you, whether or not you want them to.

Its not stalking, they just know about you, this is not harassment.

If you think stalking is having information about your existence you have big problem man, mental one.

>which means the problems that arise from the practice still impact you

making up logic to suit your arguments doesn't means you have a point

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

#107

Post by Khanhanhan »

kerkeslager wrote: post #53
kantos2 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[dead]

> 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?

If the only way for you to keep being a software developer is by going against your ethics then yes, you should switch a career. I'm not necessarily stating that doing 'facebook logins' is unethical, but your post indicated that you are feeling uncomfortable with it.

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

#108

Post by loudmax »

Better than breaking up social networks would be to force them to interoperate on an open protocol. When I first signed up for Facebook I was disappointed that only other Facebook users could see my account. Then when Google+ came on the scene I thought they'd worked out a way to interoperate with Facebook, but instead Google just wanted their own silo.

What we really need is for social networks to interoperate the way email from different providers does. Same goes for chat and audio/video communication. Rather than breaking up Facebook, mandate that they must provide access to other social networks. Use an open protocol, say, Mastadon.

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

#109

Post by reallytho9 »

pmart123 wrote: post #101
Nextgrid wrote: post #14

It’s time to outlaw stalking-based business models. If you just break up Facebook but don’t outlaw the underlying scummy business model something else will just take its place.

Let's not forgot social media platforms did organize an Egyptian revolt. When there have been natural disasters or terrorist attacks, Facebook has sent notifications to people's friends telling them they are ok. Also, tons of small brands now can exist due to Facebook and Instagram, and these companies can now do so from any location in the country or world. Facebook is a very metrics driven company, and privacy has…

Yes, and once in a while kidnappers might even let you have a beer or walk around the yard. But soon enough it’s back into the basement you go.

The point isn’t that Facebook is all bad, just that it’s mostly bad. And all of those things you mentioned can, and do, exist without Facebook. There was a world before Facebook, there will be a world after Facebook.

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

#110

Post by kantos2 »

kerkeslager wrote: post #53
kantos2 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[dead]

> 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

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