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Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

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Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#401

Post by deaux »

bartread wrote: post #268
0x5FC3 wrote: post #18

Social media companies post record earnings year after year from their ads business while increasingly proving to be harmful to society. They do the bare minimum in terms of content moderation and bots while priming the algorithms to maximize revenue. The good ol' privatized profits, socialized harm model. In a just world, would social media platforms be taxed higher on corporate revenue and how would that pan out? M…

> In a just world In a just world what Zuckerberg and his cronies are doing - the sheer unrelenting tidal wave of destabilising societal damage (nationally, internationally, globally), not to mention the negative consequences of bullying and the exacerbation of mental health issues at individual and group levels over the course of, now, decades - would be considered crimes, and they would all be put on trial, held to…

In a just world Zuckerberg would already be talked of only in past tense. This reality will get flagged/killed without a single Meta employee/astroturfer who does the flagging providing a justification as to why this isn't true.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#402

Post by bdangubic »

Ray20 wrote: post #348
bdangubic wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The calorie count for Cola is listed right on the bottle. Just don't drink it if you're to fat. And spend a few hours teaching your fat kids to read. it is legal to drink Cola, yes? so I will drink it as I have no control over it... eventually I am going to have serious health issues... and Ray20 will pay for this from his taxes... or alternatively, we can add some tax to companies that are net negative to society…

> or alternatively, we can add some tax to companies that are net negative to society Or alternatively, we can leave Ray20 alone and not force him to pay for the treatment of a 200 kg fatties with the illegal motorcycle racing and wingsuit jumping hobbies. > companies that are net negative to society It is fatties who are net negative to society, not companies.

Ray20 gonna pay taxes or go to Federal Prison

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#403

Post by Terr_ »

elkrapo wrote: post #381
EA-3167 wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s your more effective, less flawed alternative with a proven track record?

I think Julius Caesar demands a word if we were only supposed to use systems with proven track records.

https://xkcd.com/2383/

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#404

Post by ashtonshears »

krapp wrote: post #388
macintux wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's why we're fed the narrative that social media is evil and needs to be regulated or banned at all costs. Social media prioritizing algorithms that feed off division and anger is evil. If Facebook & Twitter were still ways to simply keep in touch with friends, family, and interest groups, I don't think anyone would care (other than the ads).

I think Facebook is still that for most people. I think the narrative of widespread social addiction and "mind control" through social media is intentionally overstated to serve a political agenda. These problems to exist, social media can be addictive, misinformation does spread like wildfire, but I fear focusing on "algorithms" as a whole rather than the sources of misinformation or the companies running the big pl…

‘Moral panic’ shows lacking understanding on the real damage

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#405

Post by hsbauauvhabzb »

michaelmrose wrote: post #356
EA-3167 wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s your more effective, less flawed alternative with a proven track record?

Marginal tax rates on income and wealth that make being a billionaire impossible? The US was prosperous with much higher marginal tax rates for instance. We should treat existing fortunes as bugs and correct them.

I’m not sure if you are aware but there are ways for the rich and powerful to live, maintain and earn fortunes outside of the US.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#406

Post by johnnyanmac »

EA-3167 wrote: post #339
slg wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At some point societies are going to have to reckon with the fact that democracy, free speech, and unrestricted capitalism simply aren't a sustainable mix. A system that allows people to amass incredible fortunes and use those fortunes to influence other people's beliefs and votes is simply a system that will eventually fall under the control of those ultrawealthy people.

What’s your more effective, less flawed alternative with a proven track record?

High captial tax rates, strong labor protections, and banned stock buybacks as a start. So much hubub over "make america great again" but we seem very coy about looking at fiscal policy back in the "great" days.

And I don't even think these are the best ideas. But they have "a proven track record".

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#407

Post by johnnyanmac »

irishcoffee wrote: post #390
slg wrote: post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "proven track record" part of your question is shortsighted. We shouldn't restrict future political thought by past political thoughts. We'd never see any progress that way. If you're asking which one of the three I think we should focus our attention for change, I think the obvious answer from both a moral and logical standpoint is capitalism. The combination of democracy and free speech means money is political…

Someone smarter than me can weight on this part, but I don't think it was/is capitalism per se. Moving off the gold standard, and allowing the Dodge Brothers to win the case saying stock holders were more important than paying workers were a 1-2 gut punch to capitalism. I don't believe our forefathers would be very proud of us if they saw this mess.

Dodge v. Ford was both a landmark case and a very narrow excuse that holds no jurisdiction outside of Massachusetts. I hope someone challenges it one day, but it seems like any potential challengers benefit from pretending it's precedent.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#408

Post by johnnyanmac »

hsbauauvhabzb wrote: post #405
michaelmrose wrote: post #356

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Marginal tax rates on income and wealth that make being a billionaire impossible? The US was prosperous with much higher marginal tax rates for instance. We should treat existing fortunes as bugs and correct them.

I’m not sure if you are aware but there are ways for the rich and powerful to live, maintain and earn fortunes outside of the US.

Good, let them leave, then. I'm tired of this excuse of "but the parasites are crucial to our way of life". As if the invisible hand won't have dozens of other companies to compete and fill the void should the monopoly man walk away with his money.

They've had decades to move to Dubai or New Zealand or whatever other magical country doesn't tax its residents. I wonder why they choose to stay in one of the richest countries in the world instead?

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#409

Post by krapp »

ashtonshears wrote: post #404
krapp wrote: post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Facebook is still that for most people. I think the narrative of widespread social addiction and "mind control" through social media is intentionally overstated to serve a political agenda. These problems to exist, social media can be addictive, misinformation does spread like wildfire, but I fear focusing on "algorithms" as a whole rather than the sources of misinformation or the companies running the big pl…

‘Moral panic’ shows lacking understanding on the real damage

No it shows people are being tricked into blaming the wrong thing for the damage.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#410

Post by johnnyanmac »

999900000999 wrote: post #158
dotcoma wrote: post #118

Remember when they told us that social media would "spread democracy" ?

Who told you that, the entire point was to talk to girls you lacked the courage to strike up a conversation with. Saying ‘hi, I also like that band you have a shirt of’ was just too hard so we had to create trillion dollar monstrosities.

And now they just block you on first approach. Mission accomplished.

Oh well, now we have AI girlfriends as the next trillion dollar industry. We'll get it next time!

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