Facebook is the new tobacco industry.
With one one millionth as much death
Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
31–40 of 231 posts
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
How so? Isn't there a link to types of alcohol use and depression(and cancer, and diminished mental capacity, and early death)? It's not like alcohol companies are being sued out of existence. Realistically I think that it just so happens that the people who would work at facebook are the people who naturally don't believe that facebook is a force of badness in the world because their worldview already aligned with f…
Companies are allowed to provide dangerous products. It's just that they can't do so without warning people and (potentially) without changing designs or taking other measures to protect people from the harm, unless the danger is already common knowledge.
Well - it depends on the product. Do recall that until recently MJ was illegal across the board and the US Federal Government is still against legality.
It's also illegal to own a tank.
Honestly, companies are prohibited from selling dangerous products unless there is some reason they are viewed as being dangerous but of more value being legal than illegal.
While libertarianism is rife in America - there is no inherent right to trade in dangerous products. If I decided to sell needles full of deadly poison at my store - even if very clearly labeled and even if I sat you down for a twenty minute presentation before each sale occurred - it's quite likely I'd be shut down.
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#33I've no love for Facebook and the rest of social media - I can't help but hear this latest warning as just the current "think of the children".
We've had Elvis's hips, communists, hippies, satanic rock, video-nasties, murder-simulating computer games, raves and have worked our way through at least 3 waves of 'internet panic' My guess is we'll rank this discussion in retrospect the same way as those previous 'issues'
When I read a story about "the Republican congresswoman from Washington confronted Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg" I can almost hear the mantra instilled in Mark's head "Don't say nobody under 30 is using Facebook, say anything, admit anything, just appear relevant"
Now I'm definitely not saying social media is blameless - but it's not invented aspirational capitalism or bullying. It existed, will always exist, and just uses the conduits available.
If we consider the message, not the messenger, I actually think "the youth of today" is far better adjusted than I was at their age.
But we're not allowed to say that are we? There's never been a generation than looks at the new one, and collectively says they're better than us.
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#34Facebook is the new tobacco industry.
The new tobacco industry...of decades ago. A long time ago we banned advertising smoking to children (or at least, tried to) but the beforetimes of that decision were rough. Kids commercials for smoking, toy cigarettes, etc. Facebook is actively marketing to youth today just like tobacco did decades ago, indeed. It's a great analogy because it also works well for adults: we're free to use the product/service, we have…
When I was a kid in the sixties I got chock-like candy cigarettes in my Christmas stocking, and for Halloween. I remember some were a bit powdery and you could blow on them and simulate smoke.
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#35None of this would be a problem with a user configurable feed and not whatever crap they throw at you
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#36Why isn’t the mental health of people using its platform a priority for Facebook?
Because its revenues are dependent on users being addicted to its service. Your question is akin to asking why are crack dealers not worried about the health of their customers.
But you could apply that to any business
"They sell tasty food, to keep them eating it"
or
"They mow the green to keep them golfing on it"
What business can you possibly think of tha manages to succeed without making their consumers want to consume?
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#37Has there been any further detail on what about social media is linked to depression? For instance, with Facebook, is it more because of the ads? Or is it more because of the engagement algorithms? Or, would it happen even if Facebook were just a reverse-chronological feed, populated only by your chosen friends, with zero advertising?
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking everyone else’s life is perfect because they are always posting photos of the best moments
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Companies are allowed to provide dangerous products. It's just that they can't do so without warning people and (potentially) without changing designs or taking other measures to protect people from the harm, unless the danger is already common knowledge.
Well - it depends on the product. Do recall that until recently MJ was illegal across the board and the US Federal Government is still against legality. It's also illegal to own a tank. Honestly, companies are prohibited from selling dangerous products unless there is some reason they are viewed as being dangerous but of more value being legal than illegal. While libertarianism is rife in America - there is no inhere…
Tiny niptick:
> It's also illegal to own a tank.
It isn't.
It's estimated there are around 1000 private tanks in the US, and there are tank dealers in the US, UK, and Australia. Surely other places too.
Here's some in Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-19/tinkering-with-tanks-...
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#39I've no love for Facebook and the rest of social media - I can't help but hear this latest warning as just the current "think of the children". We've had Elvis's hips, communists, hippies, satanic rock, video-nasties, murder-simulating computer games, raves and have worked our way through at least 3 waves of 'internet panic' My guess is we'll rank this discussion in retrospect the same way as those previous 'issues'…
Watching a happy and polite teenage daughter become horrifically depressed and nasty when on social media is a gut punch.
Several years of off of it for multiple months. Very happy.
On it for a couple of months. Depressed and nasty. Every single time. We were always the bad guys for restricting.
She’s moved out and married now. Now talks about how depressed she gets on it.
Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Companies are allowed to provide dangerous products. It's just that they can't do so without warning people and (potentially) without changing designs or taking other measures to protect people from the harm, unless the danger is already common knowledge.
Well - it depends on the product. Do recall that until recently MJ was illegal across the board and the US Federal Government is still against legality. It's also illegal to own a tank. Honestly, companies are prohibited from selling dangerous products unless there is some reason they are viewed as being dangerous but of more value being legal than illegal. While libertarianism is rife in America - there is no inhere…
The point is that there exist products that are dangerous, yet still legal to sell given that they are sealed and labeled appropriately. The point was NOT that you're allowed to sell literally anything as long as you disclose the risks.