TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The Social Media Thread

Go To

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

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.
#10476: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:38:00 AM

And Reddit is down.

Risa123 Since: Dec, 2021 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Shad0wSmoke Since: Nov, 2013
#10478: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:48:45 AM

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

Keeping this for future reference.

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

Google search can generally still get reddit results which you can feed into wayback machine to see old posts. Obviously there won't be any new posts for now but you can still see some of the history that way.

raziel365 Anka Aquila from South of the Far West (Veteran) Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
Anka Aquila
#10479: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:51:32 AM

[up][up]

It's as @ Pushover Media Critic says, Reddit as the site is down.

No, seriously. You try to access it and the site gives you an error page.

This is the first time that I see a social media page outright blackout though, I guess the people in charge are pretty thin-skinned.

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.
#10480: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:51:49 AM

The website still functions, but no posts are loading.

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Jun 12th 2023 at 7:52:11 AM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10481: Jun 12th 2023 at 7:58:43 AM

[up][up][up] Well, yeah, I know that much. Did wind up finding out how to get around the bug that way. [lol]

fredhot16 Don't want to leave but cannot pretend from Baton Rogue, Louisiana. Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: Too sexy for my shirt
Don't want to leave but cannot pretend
#10482: Jun 12th 2023 at 8:51:35 AM

[up][up][up]That’s…interesting. Guess it is possible to go “two can play at this game” when it comes to a social media strike.

Curious question: what could be a possible compromise between the owners and the users on the subject of third-party apps?

Trans rights are human rights. TV Tropes is not a place for bigotry, cruelty, or dickishness, no matter who or their position.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10483: Jun 12th 2023 at 8:53:16 AM

Find out why people think the third party apps are better and fix yours rather than adding nonsensical API fees?

Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#10484: Jun 12th 2023 at 8:56:48 AM

[up][up]Assuming it was actually the devs shutting the site down. I've seen Reddit go down like this before, it happens. Plus it's back up...edit: or was when I made the post anyway.

I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if they tried something like that. It'd be stupid, but so is this whole API plan.

Edited by Cris_Meyers on Jun 12th 2023 at 11:02:56 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#10485: Jun 12th 2023 at 9:36:20 AM

Yeah, I'm not sure why people are assuming malice, blackouts do happen sometimes.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10486: Jun 12th 2023 at 9:45:02 AM

Because the server load just plummeted.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#10487: Jun 12th 2023 at 9:47:28 AM

I could buy taking the site down out of spite,I expect they'll be banning communities next

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#10488: Jun 12th 2023 at 9:57:54 AM

Wouldn't the server load always plummet when there is an internal outage?

And big companies don't just shut down their entire site out of "spite". Get real, people.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10489: Jun 12th 2023 at 9:58:54 AM

It plummeted because people aren't using the site.

Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#10490: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:01:57 AM

I didn't have a problem loading reddit, on the official app or a browser. If the whole site was down, it must've been temporary.

Anura from England Since: Apr, 2011 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#10491: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:03:54 AM

Not a server engineer, so actual question: wouldn't reducing the load on the server make it run better? How would everyone suddenly leaving cause it to crash? I've only heard of that happening when the load is suddenly increased.

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.
Vehek Since: May, 2012
#10492: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:04:54 AM

According to the Verge and other tech sites, a spokesperson said so many subreddits going private caused stability issues.

Edited by Vehek on Jun 12th 2023 at 10:05:51 AM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#10493: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:06:38 AM

> And big companies don't just shut down their entire site out of "spite". Get real, people.

but I am real!

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
fredhot16 Don't want to leave but cannot pretend from Baton Rogue, Louisiana. Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: Too sexy for my shirt
Don't want to leave but cannot pretend
#10494: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:06:52 AM

@Red An internal outage at the same time when multiple subreddits have chosen to go on strike, that’s a bit of context that makes it seem more then just another electronic fubar.

What about “spiteful coercion”, stabbing the nose to force the rest of the body to comply? Big companies aren’t exactly unbiased machines that only take the easiest, long-sighted options. And that’s making it sound like it would be a very big blow, which I think is dependent on the company/business itself. Who actually owns or runs Reddit?

Edited by fredhot16 on Jun 12th 2023 at 10:07:58 AM

Trans rights are human rights. TV Tropes is not a place for bigotry, cruelty, or dickishness, no matter who or their position.
Risa123 Since: Dec, 2021 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#10495: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:23:49 AM

As someone with limited knowledge of Reddit (I used some subreddits, so I know the place, but I do not have an account there.) what is the point of a Reddit app ? What advantages do they offer compared to just access the site from browser ?

raziel365 Anka Aquila from South of the Far West (Veteran) Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
Anka Aquila
#10496: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:24:43 AM

@ Redmess

It bears to remember that this blackout is happening at the same time that a coordinated protest blackout between subreddit communities was set to happen, this is a typical smokescreen tactic to hide dissenting voices by not letting them be heard at all, or in this case, by not letting their silence be noticed.

Instead of focusing on relatives that divide us, we should find the absolutes that tie us.
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#10497: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:27:52 AM

So I'm seeing news that Twitter is trying to make it so that only Twitter Blue people can send people DMs unprompted, and everyone else must be following each other to exchange them.

Oh this is going to be a nightmare for artists as well as anyone who doesn't want to be harassed by bigoted assholes. Especially if the plan to prevent users from being able to block other people goes through.

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
#10498: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:30:56 AM

How long is the blackout supposed to be going on? As inspiring as it is that millions of users are doing so, are they prepared to be in it for the long haul? That's kind of the point of a strike, you don't stop until either your demands are met or you're fired/kicked out/beaten into submission, exposing the higher-ups for the tyrants they are. A strike that only lasts for one day is barely a strike at all, because the higher-ups can just wait it out.

And furthermore, if the higher-ups don't cave, are these millions of users prepared to abandon Reddit altogether? Reddit's a big site but it's still second-tier compared to the likes of Twitter, I'm certain that a permanent loss of that many users would kill it practically overnight.

[up]This is why I kinda wish Twitter would do a mass walkout as well, since it's blatantly obvious at this point that Musk wants to create a bigot's playground at the expense of normal non-bigoted people and the advertisers who actually bring in the money. But I kinda get the feeling everyone who does give a shit about that already has left, or is making plans to, so there's not enough people left for a walkout. :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Jun 12th 2023 at 6:36:40 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#10499: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:32:01 AM

[up][up] Alright, that sounds more plausible.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#10500: Jun 12th 2023 at 10:33:36 AM

As someone with limited knowledge of Reddit (I used some subreddits, so I know the place, but I do not have an account there.) what is the point of a Reddit app ? What advantages do they offer compared to just access the site from browser ?

Better integration with an actual smartphone environment. Not just scaling and layout, but controls, navigation, organisation of features etc.


Total posts: 18,668
Top