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The Social Media Thread

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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

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#9451: Apr 24th 2023 at 11:45:38 AM

These parrots are adorable. They even sing and dance together.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#9452: Apr 24th 2023 at 12:00:42 PM

[up][up][up]Clear you cache data, install ad block and disconnect and then you can see the article

Inter arma enim silent leges
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9453: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:12:48 PM

So Elon may have revealed he has a burner account where he roleplays as a underaged child (who loves crypto).

Edited by Ghilz on Apr 24th 2023 at 8:15:00 AM

OmegaRadiance Since: Jun, 2011
#9454: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:13:56 PM

That’s not a girl. That’s his son. The pic in said image is at least.

I just learned about this.

Every accusation by the GOP is ALWAYS a confession.
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9455: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:16:29 PM

Lemme correct he's either pretending to be a child version of himself or his 2 year old son

OmegaRadiance Since: Jun, 2011
#9456: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:20:04 PM

Yeah I understand the mistake myself. I read it and assumed a girl too.

Every accusation by the GOP is ALWAYS a confession.
Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#9457: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:21:52 PM

Boy, giving his kid this much of a social media presence while this young...

Wake me up at your own risk.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#9458: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:23:20 PM

While it wouldn't be much better if he used some random stock image photo kid...using his own son's pic is messed up.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9459: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:24:52 PM

[up][up] He's already given his kid a name that'll see him bullied and mocked for much of his school life (assuming he gets one), so I really pity the kids.

Also Elon uses his burner to reply to himself

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#9460: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:28:38 PM

This is one of the only times I've felt genuine pity for Elon Musk. This is just pitiful.

There's some disgust mixed in too since he is using his own kid's image for this.

Edited by M84 on Apr 24th 2023 at 11:29:07 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9461: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:38:32 PM

I'm much more on the disgust side. Like, some of the stuff he's posting, I've seen parents make facebook profile for their kids and post in their names and it's like, lame and weird, but whatever.

But some of the stuff he's posting in his kid's name gets... weirdly quasi sexual (The pornhub reply. The "do you like japanese girls" post). Some of the stuff in the account's likes and other posts are just... why would you saddle your kid with that???

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#9462: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:38:51 PM

Well, no two year old could possibly write like that, so pretending isn't exactly what he's doing here.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9463: Apr 24th 2023 at 8:43:02 PM

The convincingness of his performance isn't exactly what I'm judging here.

MisoraMiyazaki Ace of Space! from Tallon IV Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Ace of Space!
#9464: Apr 24th 2023 at 9:16:54 PM

Disgusted, and honestly? Surprised by this one. Maybe I just wasn't "creative" enough but this was not on my personal bingo card. WTF.

/crawls back under rock
uncertanSearcher It's always Season of the Witch from Germany Since: Oct, 2017
It's always Season of the Witch
#9465: Apr 24th 2023 at 10:05:10 PM

It sure drives home how he really sees his children as nothing but an extension of himself.

This sure was a pretty hard whiplash after the cute parrots.

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#9466: Apr 24th 2023 at 10:09:20 PM

Guess it's a bit too much by now.

So, changing topics, weirdest feature you've stumbled into?

Wake me up at your own risk.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#9467: Apr 25th 2023 at 3:41:10 AM

Some parents get really weird with their children and social media. Especially babies have basically zero privacy online.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
DoubleOG (Apprentice)
#9468: Apr 25th 2023 at 6:30:57 AM

Did Twitter have a update recently? Now I can't use the search bar without it asking me to sigh up or make an account.

alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from 🐾Furrypines 🇵🇭 (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#9469: Apr 25th 2023 at 7:00:12 AM

They did. It's annoying.

ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔|I DO COMMISSIONS|ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔
uncertanSearcher It's always Season of the Witch from Germany Since: Oct, 2017
It's always Season of the Witch
#9470: Apr 25th 2023 at 8:08:37 AM

The same thing happens if you try to click on a hashtag and unlike before you can no longer just sidestep the prompt by clicking on the X.

Edited by uncertanSearcher on Apr 25th 2023 at 5:11:51 PM

Twinkleroc from Arizona Since: May, 2021 Relationship Status: A heart full of love
#9471: Apr 25th 2023 at 11:53:17 AM

How does social media/advertisers track the effectiveness of their ads anyways? Is it purely clicks?

Mullon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
#9472: Apr 25th 2023 at 12:04:26 PM

All the more reason to stop going to Twitter.

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#9473: Apr 25th 2023 at 12:14:07 PM

I should add "I am 18 years or older" and "I accept all cookies" along my list of most told lies in the world along with "I read and accept the terms and conditions", when it comes to using social media.

Because seriously, nearly all of them barely restrict mature content and seeing it relies on a shitty checkbox that most people lie to.

Inter arma enim silent leges
amitakartok Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
#9474: Apr 25th 2023 at 12:48:52 PM

That checkbox is only there in the first place for legal liability reasons, nothing else.

It has fundamentally the same weight as fanfic disclaimers.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#9475: Apr 25th 2023 at 1:03:40 PM

It is mainly clicks, but you can also do questionaires, ask for reviews and such. This is why you sometimes see the question of how you found a product you just bought or a website you just visited.

Mail lists are also very handy for this, because you know exactly who you sent them to, and who visited your website coming from that email (not the specific address, but the email message itself).

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times

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