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By "social media" we mean any large computer network that allows people to interact in shared communities. The big ones of course are Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram, but we can't forget newer platforms like Discord and Slack.

Dedicated video sites are off-topic here and YouTube has its own separate thread.

What we should discuss in this OTC topic are news items, business operations, and activities by the networks themselves, not specific things posted by users. Those should go into threads appropriate to the subjects of those posts. For example, if an actor tweets about a film, we'd discuss that in the Media forum topic for the film, not here. If Facebook changes its policies, that could be discussed here.

The politics, motives, competency and wider business activities of the owners and leaders of social media companies (e.g. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg) are also off-topic — except in situations where they are directly making specific policy for the platform.

Talking about a particular Instagram policy change (or a high-profile ban on a specific user) directly announced by Mark Zuckerberg would be acceptable in this thread, speculating about Zuckerberg's wider motivations wouldn't be.

One exception is Truth Social, due to its connection to Donald Trump. As there is a forum ban on US Politics, all discussion of Truth Social is off-topic and posts about the platform may be thumped.

The thread's also not about "dumb thing [public figure] said on [social media platform]". If there isn't a specific thread related to the subject of the statement, then it's probably gossip and not worth talking about.


     Thread OP 
So, I was looking for a dedicated social media thread and apparently there was this one created back in 2020 that we never opened. Unfortunately, it's a little stale, so bumping it isn't going to work very well, but I would like to restart it. The reason I'm doing so is that the Computer Thread seems to have become the de facto place for this sort of talk, and it's a big tonal clash with talking about computer tech.

The hot topic of the day is Elon Musk's bid to acquire Twitter. We first discussed it in the Computer Thread, starting roughly here, and I am not going to rehash the entire discussion. Instead, I am going to resume from the last post:

CNBC: Twitter is reportedly taking another look at Musk takeover bid

Twitter's board is reportedly meeting with Elon Musk and may seek to negotiate on his buyout offer. Musk claims to have secured $46 billion in funding to buy the company at a valuation of $43 billion and is preparing to make a tender offer to its shareholders.

While the board has passed a poison pill, it could be facing resistance to that from groups of shareholders and will want to talk things out rather than face a hostile takeover. It's also possible that Twitter's stock could crash if the offer fails to go through.


Another possible topic was originally posted here.

Ars Technica: EU to unveil landmark law to force Big Tech to police illegal content

Following on from the recently passed Digital Markets Act, which requires large tech companies to unbundle first-party software from hardware platforms, the proposed Digital Services Act will require medium and large social media platforms and search engines to police hate speech and disinformation while adding additional protections for children against targeted marketing.

It also bans "dark patterns", which manipulate or trick people into clicking on ads or other content. The article doesn't explicitly say what that means, but I assume it includes things like disguising ads to look like parts of a site's user interface, hiding "close" buttons, and such.

For large companies, the requirements would go into effect immediately. For medium companies, they would have a grace period to implement the changes.

Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, has warned that Big Tech has become “too big to care.”

This phrase, "too big to care", intrigues me. It's an indictment of the idea that these companies have decided that growth and engagement metrics overwhelm any sense of social responsibility.

In my opinion, a law like this would be impossible in the United States, since it would be challenged (likely successfully) on First Amendment grounds.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 8th 2024 at 5:16:31 PM

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#4876: Nov 19th 2022 at 8:05:14 PM

Honestly, if Twitter goes I'm most curious about what'll happen to JK Rowling. Figures like Trump or Musk at least have actual influence and shit to do outside Twitter, Rowling is just a professional Twitter whiner (I know she donates money to shitty things as well, but that's nothing out-of-the-ordinary for a celebrity). In fact, pretty sure there's a whole class of public figures that do nothing but whine on Twitter (Notch, to cite another example - dunno if he's been banned yet).

Damnit, I don't like getting page toppers, it puts me on the spot. :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Nov 19th 2022 at 4:05:43 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#4877: Nov 19th 2022 at 8:23:27 PM

Honestly the thing most likely to get Trump to return is how Truth Social is about to tank and go bankrupt. At this point it's a legit question which between it and Twitter die first.

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#4878: Nov 19th 2022 at 8:35:25 PM

Why not both? :V

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
doomrider7 (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#4879: Nov 19th 2022 at 8:48:30 PM

[up]x3

My biggest concern will never not be about art as well as nonsense twitters like animals going goblin mode, any number of goofy animal twitters, and announcements from anime/manga/videogames since the bulk of their announcements are made via Twitter now.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#4880: Nov 19th 2022 at 9:32:57 PM

Honestly, if Twitter goes I'm most curious about what'll happen to JK Rowling. Figures like Trump or Musk at least have actual influence and shit to do outside Twitter, Rowling is just a professional Twitter whiner (I know she donates money to shitty things as well, but that's nothing out-of-the-ordinary for a celebrity).

Rowling could retire for a million years in the lap of luxury off of her Harry Potter royalties, I'm sure she'll be fine.

Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#4881: Nov 19th 2022 at 9:58:49 PM

Unconfirmed at the moment, but the copyright system on Twitter is broken and people have been uploading movies in chunks. I personally saw Hackers up there in 49 tweets.

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#4882: Nov 19th 2022 at 10:33:50 PM

Can confirm, seen it myself

(Reminder to people it's against forum rules to link to piracy stuff so don't)

ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#4883: Nov 19th 2022 at 11:04:00 PM

It's making me cackle, there's going to be one hell of a lawsuit for failure to uphold copyright laws.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
Imca (Veteran)
#4884: Nov 19th 2022 at 11:16:11 PM

Aaaand from a coprate standpoint this is probaly the worst thing to happen to them since Elon bought the site.

If there is any technicians left I feel bad for those poor fuckers, there about to get a nuclear alert call at 2am and have to drop every thing and imediatly come in.

Betcha it was tied to one of those microservices and it just took people this long to notice.

Edited by Imca on Nov 19th 2022 at 11:17:12 AM

uncertanSearcher It's always Season of the Witch from Germany Since: Oct, 2017
It's always Season of the Witch
#4885: Nov 20th 2022 at 12:11:25 AM

You could make a "different lawsuits that could be filed against Musk because of Twitter" Bingo at this point.

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#4886: Nov 20th 2022 at 1:17:50 AM

I wonder if anyone will try to create a Twitter substitute should it go under (I don’t know much about Mastodon, but I don’t think it’s quite what I’m thinking of).

Hopefully it would actually be much more successful in policing disinformation and hate speech.

And as long as I’m dreaming, I’d like Trump to never be allowed on social media, ever.

Oh God! Natural light!
VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#4887: Nov 20th 2022 at 2:29:06 AM

You mean like Parler, Gab, and Truth Social? There are plenty of Twitter substitutes, but they all seem to be even worse than the birdsite.

Mastodon tends to be described as an alternative as opposed to a substitute. That seems accurate.

Ukrainian Red Cross
OmegaRadiance Since: Jun, 2011
#4888: Nov 20th 2022 at 2:43:34 AM

For fanart those who do R18 are going over to Itaku since Tumblr still doesn’t allow sex even if full nudity is fine now.

Every accusation by the GOP is ALWAYS a confession.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#4889: Nov 20th 2022 at 2:57:29 AM

Twitter is something I see at best as “better the devil you know”

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
diddyknux (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#4890: Nov 20th 2022 at 3:34:45 AM

[up][up]

<_<

>_>

...

Noted for later...

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#4891: Nov 20th 2022 at 4:45:32 AM

[up][up][up] I'm not so sure that is a general fanart site, if the front page is anything to go by.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#4892: Nov 20th 2022 at 5:27:55 AM

Wow, yeah, that home page is... something.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#4893: Nov 20th 2022 at 5:37:37 AM

Yeah, and I have a hunch that crowd is not going to appreciate being turned into a general fanart site and have their identity taken away from them.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
diddyknux (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#4895: Nov 20th 2022 at 5:48:13 AM

For artists seeking a general audience who are just casually looking around the internet, I suspect that Reddit might become their home. It’s got a front page mentality that enables discoverability, it’s got moderation, it can host NSFW art if desired, and it’s stable because a chunk of the money it makes is not from user data sales but the badges/coins system that users purchase.

Edited by Silasw on Nov 20th 2022 at 1:48:48 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
SatoshiBakura (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#4896: Nov 20th 2022 at 6:06:03 AM

I've noticed that there is also a desire by some people for sites that not just allow NSFW but allow it without much in the way of content restrictions. Pixiv is apparently becoming more restrictive in what they allow to appease credit card companies, and a lot of other sites and Mastodon instances seem to disallow unorthodox content.

Mullon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
#4897: Nov 20th 2022 at 7:35:58 AM

I don't get why more people don't go to Newgrounds.

Meanwhile I need to check out Pillowfort and maybe something called co-host.

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#4898: Nov 20th 2022 at 7:41:20 AM

Didn't Newgrounds turn into a mess of drive-by trojans at one point?

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#4899: Nov 20th 2022 at 7:43:08 AM

First I'm hearing of that,I just heard that people that Newsgrounds was Old and they wanted a newer platform

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
diddyknux (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#4900: Nov 20th 2022 at 7:43:35 AM

I will say, if actual intercourse isn't in the image, DeviantArt users can actually get away with quite a bit of NSFW.


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