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Stop Using Facebook

stopusingfacebook.co

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Re: Stop Using Facebook

#21

Post by iudqnolq »

jakub_g wrote: post #15
amelius wrote: post #9

I only use Facebook for events, yet there seems to be no alternative, partly because of the network effect where small and large organizations keep posting their events only to Facebook. If there was some kind of bot that would automatically crosspost events from Facebook to other social media platforms, then perhaps there would be a chance of winning me over.

On top of that, you have certain niche online communities that seem to only be on FB those days (the days of websites with discussion forums are long gone, sadly). Also, some of my (smart) friends insist on using FB/Messenger for group messaging. I tried to convert them to Whatsapp a few years ago which IMO is way superior, but they still prefer Messenger (which I won't ever install, so I have to use FB web to keep i…

FYI Telegram uses dubious encryption and lies about their business (for ex calling themselves a nonprofit when they aren't) and is run by a Russian oligarch who started spending on democracy-related causes after a falling out with Putin. See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15281788 for example.

WhatsApp's encryption protocol (Axolotl) comes from the open source secure messaging app Signal. If you can't get people to use Signal, WhatsApp is at least much better than Telegram or Facebook messenger.

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#22

Post by 1996 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #8

The list of reasons is good but the proposed alternatives in terms of social media (as opposed to messaging - which are pretty good) is laughable. Mastodon and all these federated services IMO fail to address the main problem while bringing several other problems to the table; I've explained this in a previous post ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20317513 ) which I'll quote here: > One big issue is that there’…

The lack of censorship that you don't like is the main value proposition and what I like. Run your own server to match your own values, but don't impose them on others.

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#23

Post by corobo »

amelius wrote: post #9

I only use Facebook for events, yet there seems to be no alternative, partly because of the network effect where small and large organizations keep posting their events only to Facebook. If there was some kind of bot that would automatically crosspost events from Facebook to other social media platforms, then perhaps there would be a chance of winning me over.

I used to only use Facebook for events, then they dropped support for iCal. I used to use Facebook for birthdays. See also the iCal droppage.

Facebook is useless to me now, this story gave me the final kick to add Facebook to my pi-hole to begin the rehab process.

Rip the bandaid off, let the healing begin. I’ll find some other way for sorting out events.

Also you can’t do that with a bot. At least not legit via API. They blocked access to events after the Cambridge thing

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#24

Post by dysproz »

Nextgrid wrote: post #8

The list of reasons is good but the proposed alternatives in terms of social media (as opposed to messaging - which are pretty good) is laughable. Mastodon and all these federated services IMO fail to address the main problem while bringing several other problems to the table; I've explained this in a previous post ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20317513 ) which I'll quote here: > One big issue is that there’…

I think that app does not make it successfull. App can be awful, because friends that use it with us are the real value of social media. So if you’ll convince most of your friends to use Mastodon, it may be pretty good social media app. You are right that non-technical people may find hard to use these ‘super secure alternatives’, but apparently media buzz about evil Facebook did the job and nowadays it’s not always obvious that someone is on Facebook. I have some friends that decided to use apps that are not really social media apps as substitute to Facebook - and it turns out that reddit or signal may be a great social media place even though it’s not really designed to be one. :-)

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#25

Post by yoz-y »

jammygit wrote: post #5
yoz-y wrote: post #3

I think these calls to action are preaching to the choir. I don't even use Facebook and my eyes glazed over when seeing this.

Why are “these calls to action” just preaching to the choir? Over the last year a bunch of people I know have stopped using google search, Facebook, and the epic games launcher. It’s working slowly

I have a feeling that people who leave would have left anyway. Out of curiosity, why Epic games launcher? Because of the exclusives?

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#26

Post by rvz »

As I and many privacy advocates would love people to immediately stop using Facebook for privacy-respecting alternatives, I'm afraid that the users won't leave FB, IG or WhatsApp unless the so-called 'Influencers' and their friends leave for other alternatives as they can 'influence' the 'millions' of followers to another platform.

On top of that it's difficult to convince these 'influencers' to move due to the reasons outlined on this web-page if they start to lose their followers, popularity and their money. They will crawl back to FB/IG again if this happens. Rather than target general users, they must target the influencers with millions of users.

Every major social network always had these 'influencers' using it first and their followers always jumping on it afterwards. If a privacy-respecting alternative can somehow help grow an 'influencers' reach or even make them more money without violating their privacy, they will stay and their millions of users will follow them.

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#27

Post by 6510 »

paranoiac wrote: post #7
vnorilo wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't we kind of need to stop using oil though?

The point is that a) it’s unfair to expect individual consumers to make a difference and b) it’s not realistic to expect individual consumers to make a difference because network effects are so powerful. The modern world exists in part because of cheap, plentiful oil. If you live most places in the US, you need a car, and probably a gas-powered one at that. Similarly, Facebook gobbles up information about you even if…

Sorry for being toxic but would that mean saying we shouldn't tell people to stop using Facebook will fall on deaf ears as well?

Ideally they would stop using Facebook but if people can just be aware of the horrors involved they can stop using it in full ignorance.

Re: Stop Using Facebook

#28

Post by mkandler »

thekyle wrote: post #10
mkandler wrote: post #2

I like the idea of offering alternatives, but have you considered crowdsourcing those apps? Could add an extra level of transparency if people could select/vote on which alternatives really are better (because that can be awfully subjective). It would be interesting to link to privacy policies and other relevant information as well!

You mean like AlternativeTo does? https://alternativeto.net/software/facebook/

Good point, though I tend to get too distracted on AlternativeTo. Not sure if it's the design or just too many options and not enough votes. Measuring alternatives on specific dimensions related to the problems with Facebook could be interesting!
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