Slashdot Mirror
Mark Zuckerberg's Real Campaign: Save Facebook (axios.com)
From an Axios report: Mark Zuckerberg started 2017 scoffing at the idea of Russia election manipulation on Facebook, and looked like he was contemplating his own possible run for the presidency. Facebook's CEO ends 2017 a very changed man: scrambling to curtail (some of) the manipulation he now acknowledges exists, and to save the most powerful platform in human history. A Facebook exec tells us: "This is the year people will see we get that there's real work to do. We have to change."
Hmm .... reading between the lines, I would guess that Zuckerberg's real concern is that engagement metrics are falling for Facebook users. I can't imagine that he gives a flip one way or the other about "fake news" or manipulation, as long as people use Facebook.
Just this morning, I unfollowed yet another friend who couldn't resist screaming at everyone with yet another political post. It's getting very, very tiring. Facebook has caused friends of mine to stop speaking (in person) to each other. It's a great platform for seeing family photos, but beyond that I no longer see much utility in using a platform that exists to promote and monetize "us vs. them" mindsets.
Facebook can't die quickly enough.
Most people detest facebook, even those who use it.
...They seem to have a pretty dedicated following. ...It is entirely what you make of it. If you friend mostly idiots that just post pics of their dinner, you'll just see a bunch of dinner pics. If you friend informative sources, you'll see informative content.....
Agreed. Facebook is what you make of it. People blame Facebook instead of evaluating their own behavior and interactions that make Facebook what it is.
Human nature/psychology is more likely to react to, respond, and share inane, extreme, and negative stuff than it is to intelligent, moderate, nuanced stuff, so naturally the former floats to the top of many Facebook users "experience." This phenomenon is not unique to Facebook though... Just look at the Slashdot commentary and note how often the negative, angry, and sometimes unabashed trolling comments generate the most responses [like the original post in this very discussion]. Humanity's fundamental fascination with conflict and cat pictures won't be cured by destroying Facebook. Killing Facebook would be like cutting off the head of a hydra, where two [or more] options would arise in its place fulfill people's desire for conflict and cat pictures, whether they are aware of their desires or not.