I have trouble understanding why we should break up Facebook but not google. Is it because we think google is less evil than Facebook?
Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
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Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#52I found this piece very unconvincing. Where is the articulate and data supported argument that our democracy is under threat? Are people no longer voting? No, they are voting in droves. People of all ages are more politically charged than ever before. I’m seeing 10 year olds engaging in our democracy. To me it is becoming increasingly apparent that the issue here is that people aren’t voting for the issues the NYT an…
>To me it is becoming increasingly apparent that the issue here is that people aren’t voting for the issues the NYT and Chris want people to vote on.
While you're getting downvoted, there is likely an element of truth to this. The "old" media has seen entities like Twitter and Facebook as a threat to their business model, as well as their ability to be influencers. There are legitimate gripes that we should all have with Facebook and their ilk, but I am sure the NYT is motivated by more than just concern for the public good.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
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> 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?
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#54It’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.
It's the advertising market that drives all of this.
As you rightly point out, history is proof that the ad dollars don't care what the platform or who the messenger is, as long as they are easy to use and effectiveness can be measured.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#55It’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.
I think "surveillance capitalism" has a better ring to it. Maybe "corporate surveillance" if we want to be less ideological.
I think "surveillance capitalism" better reflects the underlying incentives, and is less likely to be confused with some other nefarious phenomena, such as surveillance of employees, or surveillance of other corporations by their competitors.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
How are the business models different?
FB, IG and WhatsApp are isolated silos (for now). FB tries to work for everyone whereas IG and WhatsApp target younger demographics, since Facebook is no longer cool to be on.
WhatsApp certainly does not target younger demographics. Its goal is to be a messenger app for everybody.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#57I have trouble understanding why we should break up Facebook but not google. Is it because we think google is less evil than Facebook?
In a way, it is less evil.
It has not been caught selling user data the same way FB has. It does not have the same reach / social control, since it's never managed to create a social network with enough traction.
Still, some control is needed, but I think we should all agree that Facebook should be top priority?
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#58I agree to breaking up Facebook. But the message falls flat when the suggestion is to spin off WhatsApp and Instagram into separate companies. This doesn't really do anything. When standard oil or Bell telephone broke up, they were broken across geographic lines or "horizontally" in situations where the business was vertically integrated (separating extraction, refining or transport in the case of standard oil) FB, I…
I disagree. Many people have moved away from FB to IG after all the bad publicity FB has had. If IG was an independent company that consumer choice would mean something. As it is, any privacy conscious social network that mounts any threat to FB will simply be bought as happened with WhatsApp.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#59advertisers and web masters wanting analytics can get together and share cookies on users they want to track weather Facebook or google enable them or not.
Re: Chris Hughes Says It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm against direct democracy because I don't have the expertise or the time to make informed decisions about everything my government is currently doing for me. Direct democracy will likely devolve into a reign of demagogues imho.
The Swiss might have something to say on this, living in one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world which happens to be governed under something resembling direct democracy.
It's also fairly homogenous in terms of ethnic and socioeconomic demographics. It's a lot easier to have direct democracy when factors like this are limiting the presence of non-overlapping interest and ideologies.