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Most Americans Don't Think Social Networks Are Good For the World, Survey Finds (axios.com)
A new survey from Axios finds that a majority of Americans don't think social networks are good for the world. An anonymous reader shares the key findings: Silicon Valley has a big and growing problem: Americans have rising concerns with its most popular products and a growing majority wants big social media companies regulated, according to new poll conducted by Survey Monkey for "Axios on HBO." In the past year, there has been a 15-point spike in the number of people who fear the federal government won't do enough to regulate big tech companies -- with 55% now sharing this concern. In that same period, there was a 14-point increase in those who feel technology has hurt democracy and free speech. The biggest spike has been among Republicans, presumably because of increased concern about perceived censorship of conservative voices on social media. About 40% of Americans still feel that social media is a net positive for society. Overall, 65% of people say smartphones have made their quality of life better. The study also found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents say they sleep with their phone in or next to their bed; and that jumps to 73% among millennials. Also, "More than half (51%) say smartphones are the hardest technology for most people to live without," reports Axios. "And that jumps to 67% among millennials."
Guess I'm from a different generation. There are days I forget my phone and don't even notice that I did until I start looking for it when going to bed since it's my alarm clock. Which is also the one function I require the most out of it...
But take away my computer and you have a very confused person at your hands.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
What? You don't have your alarm clock across the room? You sleep with it next to your bed? What a strange person you are!
Personally I still use a regular alarm clock and even wear a wrist watch, because that's how I grew up. But seeing how modern cell phones have become these all-in-one devices I am not at all surprised that other older and 'discrete' tech gets displaced by these new devices and that people want to keep them close at all times. That's one of the many other factors that have to be considered here as well.
I avoid social networking like the plague and my wife is on Facebook all the time. Just the types of little humorous clips she shows me really imitates me.. like I can literally feel the seconds being drained away from my life. First of all, many of them that are intended to show some funny moment are so obviously staged; and people on average really don't have a great sense of humor.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Smart phones are not social media. Why does the summary conflate the two?
I do.
That's why a loss of my computer would devastate me, it would be near impossible to reach me.
A phone call is by some margin the worst kind of communication you could have with someone. It gives you no time to ponder a suitable answer, it does not document the communication unless you deliberately do it yourself, it only allows for one simultaneous communication and it does not let you prioritize your communications.
If you need something from me, drop me a line in the instant messenger we use in house and you will receive an answer according to the importance of the communication and the availability of the information you require.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
It's a bit different when your job expects to be able to reach you on your phone.
What does that have to do with social networking?
You just don't have one of those jobs.
Do you look in the mirror in the morning and repeat that to yourself.
No sig today...
Usenet used to be great. I'm not sure if you would consider that "social media" but it rocked. There are still some news groups I read which are still good. Although the trolls and spam has gotten crazy.
"Social media" like facebook OTOH is a nightmare of crap. Seemingly sane, intelligent people post things that are insane and garbage. On both sides of the spectrum. The people who are middle of the road don't seem to post nearly so much.
The number of people who post political junk is amazing. The worst part is many of them are literally in a state of doublethink. On the one hand they complain about how high taxes are, and then they simultaneously complain the government isn't doing enough. If you point out that having government do more will almost certainly cost more, they get frustrated and tend to resort to magical unicorns to try and solve that.
Also, I don't care at all about the fact that the coffee shop screwed up your coffee. Big deal. To see you post some story about the plight of starving people while previously complaining about your coffee being screwed up makes you look like an incredible asshole. You should be glad you have the funds to afford your cup of hot coffee, and be glad the water to make it is is (mostly) OK.
So which one is it? The post starts off talking about a poll relating to social media, but then turns into hand-wringing over smart phones. To be sure they often go together, but this kind of fuzzy thinking is more click-bait than actual, you know, informed discussion.
... in many ways.
Facebook is looking to deploy AI on our photos to determine demographics like race, age, presence of boats, goats, grand kids, political affiliation, religion, sexual preferences, and they are going to make even more money then they do now.
I have a bot that deletes everything older than the current month. I'm a photographer and I don't want to feed that goddam machine, which pisses me off because Facebook was a great venue. I don't bother to post photos.
In fact, I'm down to 20 Friends. Used to be 750. They don't know it, but I'm doing THEM a favour, as well.
I still rely on Facebook to keep in touch with family, but because my footprint is shrinking, I'll eventually just bring it down.
I know of no way to circumvent. Email was compromised way before Facebook was created.
Other social media platforms are just as bad. In my professional opinion, we're screwed.
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.