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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

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10451: Jun 11th 2023 at 1:49:09 PM

They're introducing completely unpayable fees for API access. Like, every 3rd party app would need to charge $10 minimum on its users or something to be able to keep up for it.

Because said third party apps are generally better and, crucially, necessary for web accessibility, that's not exactly good.

Oh, and when doing a Q&A session to, supposedly, reassure people, they blatantly only picked questions that they had seeded, and basically reiterated "no we're not changing". In response, take away the one thing a social media site has to sell itself on: its userbase.

terumokou Pitiable and Illegally Dumped Object from In a bamboo forest full of bunnies, California Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Mu
Pitiable and Illegally Dumped Object
#10452: Jun 11th 2023 at 2:43:50 PM

In short, they're being goddamn loan sharks.

Burning love!
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#10454: Jun 11th 2023 at 5:00:10 PM

I feel bad for Musk's lawyers. He no doubt pays well but he just lacks that filter to not make their lives difficult.

alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from 🐾Furrypines 🇵🇭 (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#10455: Jun 11th 2023 at 6:29:36 PM

Coincidence that r/Philippines has started to go dark the same date as the country's Independendence Day. I salute them. Makibaka! ✊🏽

Edited by alnair20aug93 on Jun 11th 2023 at 10:17:55 PM

ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔|I DO COMMISSIONS|ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔
OrangeBun Formerly Hail Muffins (He/Him) from The only sane region left in Brazil (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: I'm her lunatic and she's my sociopath
Formerly Hail Muffins (He/Him)
#10456: Jun 11th 2023 at 6:33:42 PM

I first read that as "in the middle of the country's independence" and was very concerned for a second.

El sexo es temporal. LA PENITENCIA ES ETERNA!
alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from 🐾Furrypines 🇵🇭 (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#10457: Jun 11th 2023 at 6:39:12 PM

Yeah, my bad for the jumbled choice of words.

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
#10458: Jun 11th 2023 at 9:33:14 PM

Well then, the Reddit blackout is starting. Now we have to wait if anything will come of it.

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#10459: Jun 11th 2023 at 9:56:00 PM

Oh yeah, I've already did my last posts and am rooting for this protest.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#10460: Jun 11th 2023 at 10:18:41 PM

I recently came across https://raddle.me, which seems like a workable Reddit alternative if you find federation intimidating.

Ukrainian Red Cross
alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from 🐾Furrypines 🇵🇭 (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#10461: Jun 11th 2023 at 10:47:03 PM

Question. What's the Troperspeak for "Enshittification", when it comes to how social media platforms become jerkasses to their users and investors when these platforms go big?

Edited by alnair20aug93 on Jun 12th 2023 at 1:47:50 AM

ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔|I DO COMMISSIONS|ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#10462: Jun 11th 2023 at 11:09:05 PM

I just call it enshittification. That's the term as it was coined, after all.

It's been fun.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#10463: Jun 12th 2023 at 1:07:08 AM

If you want to know if there is a trope for that, I think you should ask in Ask The Tropers.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
alnair20aug93 🍊orange fursona🧡 from 🐾Furrypines 🇵🇭 (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
🍊orange fursona🧡
#10464: Jun 12th 2023 at 1:17:55 AM

You mean Trope Finder? At any rate, I wanted to ask it here before there.

ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔|I DO COMMISSIONS|ᜇᜎᜈ᜔ᜇᜈ᜔
Perseus Since: Nov, 2009
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
#10467: Jun 12th 2023 at 1:49:04 AM

Oh hey, there are the subreddits I've used on there! I guess I just missed the announcement. :V

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10468: Jun 12th 2023 at 1:52:14 AM

I noticed it was starting because I was trying to find solutions for a fallout 4 bug. [lol]

JethroQWalrustitty Since: Jan, 2001
#10469: Jun 12th 2023 at 2:46:53 AM

And I wanted to make a topic asking if Behind the Bastards should cover the Unabomber now that he's dead.

raziel365 Anka Aquila from South of the Far West (Veteran) Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
Anka Aquila
#10470: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:15:12 AM

So, how many social media platforms have fallen from grace already? It just seems like a trend these days that the old big names pull something awful on their userbase.

Instead of focusing on relatives that divide us, we should find the absolutes that tie us.
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.
#10471: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:16:25 AM

Something funny to me that r/cryptomarkets is still public.

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#10472: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:20:00 AM

Surprising that several crypto related subreddits are private, though. Strange allies.

Wake me up at your own risk.
Risa123 Since: Dec, 2021 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#10473: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:26:11 AM

[up] Not really. I know people hate crypto here and for a good reason, but these guys suffer from this just as much as anybody else. They have the same reason to join this "strike" as the rest.

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.
#10474: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:27:10 AM

Disappointing how many of the really big subs aren't joining in, especially when you scroll down and it's like 99% of the smaller subs.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10475: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:36:32 AM

Yeah, but some of the biggest ones are joining in. r/funny is #2 out of every subreddit, for instance, and r/aww, r/gaming, r/music, r/pics, and r/science are in the top 10.


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