The dark side of social media

macgeek

Member
Great Netflix film. From the makers of the technology we use every day. Its got me thinking that I need to quit facebook and all social media.

If you're not paying for the product, you are the product.

 

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Watched this 2-3 weeks ago. One takeaway was towards the end, most of the ones being interviewed were in agreement that they didn't encourage or allow their own children to join any social sites.
 
Here is some of what the makers of this technology said about social media:

  • Its is designed to manipulate us, control us.
  • Everything you do online is being watched, tracked, measured. Every action you take is recorded. What image you looked at, and for how long you looked at it.
  • Based on what you're doing, they know when you are lonely, depressed, introvert or extrovert. All this data is being collected about us whether you know it or not.
  • What do they do with this data? They build computer "models" to predict our actions.
  • All your clicks, likes, pictures you've seen, videos, what you share.
  • They can predict what emotions trigger you.
  • Keeping you engaged and looking at the screen is their business model. How much of your life can we get you to give to us.
  • Addiction and manipulation based technology environment.
  • Its the Gradual slight imperceptible change in your own behavior that IS the product. Changing what you do, how you think, who you are.
 

This forum, and a couple of others I visit (primarily outdoor equipment repair) are as close as I intend to get to "social media". I have far too many other things to occupy my time and attention. I would dread a life that consisted of endless texting and tweeting.
 
I think it's a sad reflection of human nature that so many people, especially the young, ARE so dependant on social media. To share all the trivia of your life with complete strangers is quite pathetic. It's no wonder that it is so easy to manipulate their minds. The worry is that most of these people are eligible to vote and their choice is often the result of influence from the media or 'celebs'.
 
I have FB and Instagram but left Twitter a few months ago. I enjoy FB mostly, it allows me to keep in contact with family an friends far away and see pictures. Lean new crafts and recipes. I follow places like, The Smithsonian, and other museums and interesting stuff and see things I will never get to in person but I am still fascinated about. I think it all has to do with your attitude and who you allow to be apart of it. I do dislike many of the add's and sponsored posts but we cant have it all, what fun would that be anyway. But it is not for everyone and you just need to know what you want from it and be careful on friend requests. Just my thoughts on it. Have a good day.
 
I'm on Fb for the animal-related content. My "friends" are people I've known from a forum I joined in '99 - we never message one another. I don't accept friend requests from strangers (I learned that the hard way), and I only comment on one person's account (she's a writer).
 
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Why would anyone be interested in the minutiae of my daily life on 'Anti-Social Media' as I call it?
The only reason so-called celebrities are celebrities is because the average person follows everything they do
Without the millions of ordinary people like 'us' so-called celebrities would be nobody just like 'us'
We only know of their every move because their Spin Doctors or Publicists contact the Media to alert 'us'
 
I watched The Social Dilemma a few weeks ago and thought it was quite good.

I enjoy FB because I have friends who regularly post updates. I also have some ex colleagues who post links to some really interesting articles in reputable, respected publications that I like to read. I also follow some of the left leaning publications to see what they are highlighting. However the stuff I like most are the music artists I follow and the groups that enjoy some of the music artists I like. I feel like I get more insight into those and also I often get info before it hits general publications if it ever does.

I like FB because I can actually reach out to music artists I enjoy and sometimes I get a like or better yet a reply.
 
I do have a Facebook account, but my home page is as locked down as the settings will allow. I never look at it and I get suggestions for friends daily via email, but don't act on them. My use for Facebook is to use it only when I take an online class and the instructor uses a private Facebook account for students to meet and discuss items related to the class. I don't have any other involvement with social media except this forum. I saw enough nastiness in other forums that I did subscribe to over time, that I either deleted myself or had the admin delete.

Tony
 
Why would anyone be interested in the minutiae of my daily life on 'Anti-Social Media' as I call it?
The only reason so-called celebrities are celebrities is because the average person follows everything they do
Without the millions of ordinary people like 'us' so-called celebrities would be nobody just like 'us'
We only know of their every move because their Spin Doctors or Publicists contact the Media to alert 'us'
reminds me of the famous notorious Kardasians. They paid yahoo to spin up news about them several times a day.
 
This forum, and a couple of others I visit (primarily outdoor equipment repair) are as close as I intend to get to "social media". I have far too many other things to occupy my time and attention. I would dread a life that consisted of endless texting and tweeting.
Hmmmmmm not political material I guess.
 
I own a company that is on Facebook. I use Facebook as a business resource only. I do not use it for anything personal. I do not understand many of the things that I see on Facebook. Here is an example, I have a friend that I have known for about 15 years or so, but he will post everything he does, every where he goes as well as what he is having for a meal and where he is having it. It's just way more information that I need, but each to there own.
 
Social media has one purpose- to collect user's data for resale to marketing companies. Your online "behavior" of Google searching, the Facebook content that you are attracted to, all of that defines who you are, in terms of how you might spend money. Targeted advertising, tailored and delivered to you, the potential customer.
 
Social media has one purpose- to collect user's data for resale to marketing companies. Your online "behavior" of Google searching, the Facebook content that you are attracted to, all of that defines who you are, in terms of how you might spend money. Targeted advertising, tailored and delivered to you, the potential customer.

There is HUGE money in that collection of data. Our data is bought and sold all the time. It is good to have that reminder from time to time.

Tony
 
I joined FascistBook to stay in touch with the grandferals at my Son and daughter's request.
I keep it for messenger which is great for having facetime with them every day, mind you, I do draw the line in doing their homework for them lol, But they do try.
 
Social media has one purpose- to collect user's data for resale to marketing companies. Your online "behavior" of Google searching, the Facebook content that you are attracted to, all of that defines who you are, in terms of how you might spend money. Targeted advertising, tailored and delivered to you, the potential customer.
I don't agree with you. Even though some of our given info. is collected we have a choice of what they get. FB is also for Family and Friends to share their life experiences and other things over the net and especially in these pandemic times when it's not possible to get together in person. Also, it may not be possible to get together personally even when it's not pandemic times as family and friends are spread out all over the world and country. It is a good resource for many to share their lives while choosing the proper FB setting to remain private.
 


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