I was just about to post to AskHN about how much data these social network behemoths can garner from unposted data, i.e., I write something into my status box or a comment like "fuck the police," then delete without posting, is that data gathered and mined? My gut and brain say yes, because it's easily possible to gather it and with the little bit of research I found no evidence that really shows one way or another what happens behind closed doors at these mega companies.
Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
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Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#32I was just about to post to AskHN about how much data these social network behemoths can garner from unposted data, i.e., I write something into my status box or a comment like "fuck the police," then delete without posting, is that data gathered and mined? My gut and brain say yes, because it's easily possible to gather it and with the little bit of research I found no evidence that really shows one way or another w…
But it's definitely thought-mining.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is that a serious question? Social networks are dependent on network effects. Having a subscription immediately increases the barrier to entry too high for people to be able to get their friends on the same platform.
Yes it is. My feeling is that we have entered an age that youth is not naive anymore and would happily pay $3/month (at least in the US) for a non-tracking all-round communication service.
>My feeling is that we have entered an age that youth is not naive anymore and would happily pay $3/month
Are you joking? When I was a broke student there was zero chance I would sign-up for a monthly subscription service.
It's a pipe dream.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#34Is this supposed to be a bad thing? If I were a non-profit working on teen depression and suicide, this sounds like an amazing innovation. My intervention and education dollar would go much further.
I don't understand the sinister outlook, especially from people who in other contexts--e.g. cryptography & terrorism--would adamantly claim that technology is neutral and that the net benefit from innovation is with rare exception to the betterment of society.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#35Why don't we have a subscription based, non-tracking, ad-free social network yet??
I contributed to the Kickstarter for an open social network called Disapora seven years ago[1].
It's open source now[2], there's no advertising, and you can host your own "pod" (page) or you can use another host. https://joindiaspora.com is the main site.
Hardly anyone uses it because... hardly anyone uses it. And it's a little more technical than getting on Facebook.
[1] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mbs348/diaspora-the-per...
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm pretty skeptical of this claim. The barrier from $0.00 to $0.01 is huge , and it's even moreso with people young enough to not have credit cards. It's not that "oh, if it'd succeed someone would have done it by now," but the attempts I've seen at this make me think that it'd be very difficult to even try.
I am sure that $3/month wouldn't be a financial problem for the majority of Harvard students, but I agree with the first part of your argument. We have yet to learne to pay for nice things on the internet.
It's not Harvard students you need. There aren't that many of them and they already have their own social networks. You need to market to middle- and high-schoolers. Because by the time they're in college and could afford $3/month, they've already got outlets.
Network effects are king.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is that a serious question? Social networks are dependent on network effects. Having a subscription immediately increases the barrier to entry too high for people to be able to get their friends on the same platform.
Yes it is. My feeling is that we have entered an age that youth is not naive anymore and would happily pay $3/month (at least in the US) for a non-tracking all-round communication service.
The youth - under 18 - may or may not have a problem with it. However, they also can't readily do the actual payment portion of the deal and would have to buy a gift card or ask their parents - and their parents may object, especially if they are poor.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is that a serious question? Social networks are dependent on network effects. Having a subscription immediately increases the barrier to entry too high for people to be able to get their friends on the same platform.
Yes it is. My feeling is that we have entered an age that youth is not naive anymore and would happily pay $3/month (at least in the US) for a non-tracking all-round communication service.
> My feeling is that we have entered an age that youth is not naive anymore and would happily pay $3/month (at least in the US) for a non-tracking all-round communication service.
Probably not, but there just might be enough, youth (or people just out of the edge of that category with contacts inside of it) that will pay $10/month for such a service plus the privilege of sponsoring 9 of their friends with free accounts. Who, would of course have the option of upgrading to paid, getting their own 9 giveaway accounts, and returning the giveaway account to their sponsor.
Which, sure, might be as little as $1/user/mo., rather than $3.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm pretty skeptical of this claim. The barrier from $0.00 to $0.01 is huge , and it's even moreso with people young enough to not have credit cards. It's not that "oh, if it'd succeed someone would have done it by now," but the attempts I've seen at this make me think that it'd be very difficult to even try.
I am sure that $3/month wouldn't be a financial problem for the majority of Harvard students, but I agree with the first part of your argument. We have yet to learne to pay for nice things on the internet.
When the time comes that I can't avoid them using something, as a parent I would pay $3/month for my kids.
Re: Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure', 'worthless'
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Facebook seems to know I have ADHD and suggested a few "fidget toys". I actually like those ads. I could see targeted ads for things like full-spectrum lights (used for people with seasonal affective disorder) or Headspace (app for meditation) being a good thing.
it can't arbitrate news, do we really want it trying to arbitrate diagnoses?
But it could, eventually, theoretically? Ideally if it were good at its job it could point out things that you weren't consciously aware of before and then suggest appropriate courses of action. Advertising may not be the best medium for this, but perhaps another app that analyses your facebook habits/behaviors. Doesnt even need to be facebook specific. I think its worth some research effort.