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As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

theguardian.com

1–10 of 129 posts

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#2
Facebook is primarily a propaganda organization.

It's main objective is to influence, manipulate and subvert the user's judgment and convince them to buy something --- be it physical product or ideology. To further this objective, it has developed an incredibly detailed psychological profile of each individual user using deeply personal info willing surrendered by the user themselves.

It's skill at doing this is what it promotes to it's real paying customers --- mostly advertisers. Users are not their "customer", they are just the marks being manipulated.

As board member Peter Thiel put it, "I'd rather be seen as evil than incompetent". Evil is obviously more profitable.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#3
Odd that "Stop using Facebook and products it owns" wasn't listed.

While I understand that at this point it will probably take some regulatory action to fully deal with Facebook and its abuses, there's a huge cognitive dissonance among many people when it comes to Facebook. Lots of the people who complain about how evil the company's behavior is use the company's products frequently. Lots of criticism of Facebook is published on websites that have Facebook Like and follow buttons, and use Facebook tracking pixels.

Stop feeding the beast.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#4

Odd that "Stop using Facebook and products it owns" wasn't listed. While I understand that at this point it will probably take some regulatory action to fully deal with Facebook and its abuses, there's a huge cognitive dissonance among many people when it comes to Facebook. Lots of the people who complain about how evil the company's behavior is use the company's products frequently. Lots of criticism of Facebook is…

Facebook is an addiction.

"Just say no", is wonderful advice but the reality is somewhat more complicated.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#5

Odd that "Stop using Facebook and products it owns" wasn't listed. While I understand that at this point it will probably take some regulatory action to fully deal with Facebook and its abuses, there's a huge cognitive dissonance among many people when it comes to Facebook. Lots of the people who complain about how evil the company's behavior is use the company's products frequently. Lots of criticism of Facebook is…

Facebook is an addiction. "Just say no", is wonderful advice but the reality is somewhat more complicated.

> "Just say no", is wonderful advice

Which is why we're surprised it's not in the article.

Applying that advice is complicated, but we should still push for it, and there's is a very strong network effect. If in reaction to new a lot of people stopped using Facebook, then Facebook would be that much easier for others to stop using.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#6

Facebook is primarily a propaganda organization. It's main objective is to influence, manipulate and subvert the user's judgment and convince them to buy something --- be it physical product or ideology. To further this objective, it has developed an incredibly detailed psychological profile of each individual user using deeply personal info willing surrendered by the user themselves. It's skill at doing this is what…

This is a shockingly concise, accurate and readily digestible by the common person description of what Facebook actually is. If you don’t mind, I’m going to save this for the future.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#7

Odd that "Stop using Facebook and products it owns" wasn't listed. While I understand that at this point it will probably take some regulatory action to fully deal with Facebook and its abuses, there's a huge cognitive dissonance among many people when it comes to Facebook. Lots of the people who complain about how evil the company's behavior is use the company's products frequently. Lots of criticism of Facebook is…

Facebook is an addiction. "Just say no", is wonderful advice but the reality is somewhat more complicated.

It might be easier said than done, but at some point you have to stop indulging your addiction if you want to stop indulging your addiction.

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#8

Odd that "Stop using Facebook and products it owns" wasn't listed. While I understand that at this point it will probably take some regulatory action to fully deal with Facebook and its abuses, there's a huge cognitive dissonance among many people when it comes to Facebook. Lots of the people who complain about how evil the company's behavior is use the company's products frequently. Lots of criticism of Facebook is…

Facebook is an addiction. "Just say no", is wonderful advice but the reality is somewhat more complicated.

People deal with their addictions. If people can overcome alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, etc., people who are genuinely addicted to Facebook can do more than say "I'm addicted."

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#9

Facebook is primarily a propaganda organization. It's main objective is to influence, manipulate and subvert the user's judgment and convince them to buy something --- be it physical product or ideology. To further this objective, it has developed an incredibly detailed psychological profile of each individual user using deeply personal info willing surrendered by the user themselves. It's skill at doing this is what…

I’d say Twitter has done more damage to the society than FB. Twitter is a pure outrage machine.

I might be in the minority but Instagram is still awesome. It’s gotten more ads but most of them are quite interesting.

I’ve found made in USA goods from IG ads like this: https://psudo.com/

Re: As a whistleblower prepares to speak out, what can be done to rein in Facebook?

#10

Facebook is primarily a propaganda organization. It's main objective is to influence, manipulate and subvert the user's judgment and convince them to buy something --- be it physical product or ideology. To further this objective, it has developed an incredibly detailed psychological profile of each individual user using deeply personal info willing surrendered by the user themselves. It's skill at doing this is what…

> Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder and chief executive, has argued that only companies as large as Facebook have the resources to fight misinformation, election meddling and harmful content.

Look, they’re not a propaganda machine! I’m so thankful we have them to “fight” against “misinformation”. I read that and my blood began to boil. Evil is the perfect description of such disgusting, deceitful pandering.

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