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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

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#17476: Jan 3rd 2025 at 10:04:08 AM

It sounds like some fantasy booze to me, really.

Wake me up at your own risk.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17477: Jan 3rd 2025 at 10:05:08 AM

[up][up]No, but it is childish to snark on a name without making any effort to understand its context.

I tried something else with Grok:

Me:

Using a "talk like a pirate" voice, tell me what you know about the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1, 2024.

Grok:

Arr, me hearty! On the mornin' o' January 1, 2024, a mighty explosion shook the waters near the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, 'twas like a cannon goin' off from the depths o' Davy Jones' locker! A Tesla Cybertruck, a vessel not meant for the high seas but the land, pulled up to the hotel's entrance, smokin' like a ship afire. Then, boom! It exploded, leavin' one soul lost to the locker and seven others with minor scrapes and burns.

The authorities, them scurvy dogs, be investigatin' this as a possible act o' terror, with whispers of fireworks and fuel canisters in the truck's hold. They're lookin' into whether 'twas linked to another dastardly deed in New Orleans, where a truck rammed into a crowd. Elon Musk, the cap'n of Tesla, says the blast wasn't from the ship itself but from the cargo within.

So, me matey, the waters be choppy around this tale, with no clear sight o' what lies beneath the surface yet. But rest assured, they're on the hunt for the truth, like pirates chasin' after the biggest treasure.

This is great stuff.

Ooh, damn. I just caught Grok in a hallucination. I accidentally typed "January 1, 2024" when I should have used 2025. Grok regurgitated that date to me. However, it gave me the correct one when I specifically asked.

Edited by Fighteer on Jan 3rd 2025 at 1:08:18 PM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17479: Jan 3rd 2025 at 10:12:07 AM

Not to veer too far off topic, but you've just described Elon Musk to a tee. It's not like anyone familiar with him should express any surprise about it.

Anyway, I asked Grok why it repeated the wrong date back to me, and it said that it's programmed not to correct factual errors in my prompts unless I ask it to. I then made that request, and it said, "Got it! I'll make sure to correct any factual errors, like the year in a date, when responding to your queries."

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
diddyknux (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#17480: Jan 3rd 2025 at 1:39:28 PM

I didn't know Musk got it from something else. Didn't know it had context. Even with that context, with this context of the actual reality of the program, it sounds dumb.

HalfFaust Since: Jan, 2019
#17481: Jan 3rd 2025 at 4:26:25 PM

I'm vaguely aware of the term. Don't quite understand why he decided to call an AI chatbot that, but 'tech things with silly names' is far from new at this point. I think I first learned it from this XKCD comic.

Blueace: Probably because it sounds like "grog"?

I mean yeah, sounds like an AI chatbot. There's a joke in there somewhere about the whole "Twitter being full of bots" thing.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#17482: Jan 3rd 2025 at 4:34:21 PM

If I had to guess its likely a bid to appeal to other techbros. Or rather other techbros that were also Gen X. As they are more likely to be plugged into hacker and sci-fi culture of the era than millennials and zoomers. And I think Musk fits the profile of a 90s techbro in other aspects.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17483: Jan 3rd 2025 at 4:39:07 PM

Is anyone really surprised? Cybertruck looks like something out of Total Recall (1990), the Falcon 9 rocket is named after the Millennium Falcon, SpaceX's autonomous spaceport drone ships are named after AI characters in Iain Banks novels.

The tech industry is full of people who worship 20th century science fiction. Joke about it if you like, but I'm in that same club — generationally, anyway.

Edited by Fighteer on Jan 3rd 2025 at 12:23:53 PM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#17484: Jan 3rd 2025 at 4:59:37 PM

[up] Yeah chances are if Zuckleburg didn't call dibs, Musk would've seize the metaverse train, purely out as the same id that created Ready Player One

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Jan 3rd 2025 at 4:59:47 AM

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#17485: Jan 3rd 2025 at 5:38:00 PM

The tech industry is full of people who worship 20th century science fiction. Joke about if you like, but I'm in that same club — generationally, anyway.

Usually without actually understanding it either. It's all very superficial (see also Peter Thiel's constant naming of things after stuff from Lord of the Rings) tongue

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Jan 3rd 2025 at 2:39:32 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#17486: Jan 3rd 2025 at 5:48:48 PM

hence "Torture Nexus" memes

onto another note. Is there any notable update son Tik Tok and its imminent ban?

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#17487: Jan 3rd 2025 at 5:50:42 PM

It depends what you mean update,the ban is still happening

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#17488: Jan 3rd 2025 at 6:01:58 PM

The latest I know of is that the Supreme Court has scheduled arguments regarding PAFACA (the law that is forcing ByteDance to divest from TikTok) on January 10. The deadline for ByteDance is January 19, though there is an option for a 90-day extension.

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#17489: Jan 3rd 2025 at 6:08:05 PM

So my understanding is that more kids are watching YouTube than actual TV these days? Is that right?

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17490: Jan 3rd 2025 at 6:38:38 PM

Historical correction: The term "Metaverse" was coined by Snow Crash. Everything after is borrowing from that Ur-Example.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
PhoenixAct Since: Feb, 2011
#17491: Jan 3rd 2025 at 7:00:45 PM

More and more I'm coming to believe the UK government needs to ban the dumpster fire formerly known as Twitter.

Musk has been using the site to spread conspiracy rumours designed to attack the current government, as well as stoke racial tensions. It's all clearly part of his attempts to prop up Farage.

Starmer needs to grow a spine, and actually try to do something about this wannabe supervillain.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#17492: Jan 4th 2025 at 6:42:28 AM

Unfortunately,banning Twitter would be giving types like Elon exactly what he wants,a decent chance to throw his weight around,there's not a lot the british Government can do in this case

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Mrph1 he/him from Mercia (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: This is not my beautiful wife!
he/him
#17493: Jan 4th 2025 at 8:17:36 AM

At the very least, Labour should remove the party and government's own presence on X. Remaining there lends it gravitas for UK readers.

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#17494: Jan 4th 2025 at 8:19:07 AM

[up][up]

Not sure how banning a propaganda network would give the owner of that network more power, to be honest.

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#17495: Jan 4th 2025 at 9:28:51 AM

[up] It actually makes more people more likely to believe their views if they were censored by the government. "The UK government banned our site because of the truths they don't want you to hear." Forbidden Fruit basically.

Since Elon Musk is a vocal "free speech absolutist" (as long as nobody says something he disagrees with), a government banning Twitter would give him an enormous amount of public support.

Edited by TheLivingDrawing on Jan 4th 2025 at 12:35:24 PM

Once Upon A Time.
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#17496: Jan 4th 2025 at 9:42:01 AM

It would be a lot easier for the UK government if he and twitter were based in the UK,but they're not,so there's not much they can do aside from issue statements to condemn him

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#17497: Jan 4th 2025 at 9:56:18 AM

[up][up]

The people who'd support him are already doing so anyway, nevermind them considering anything a confirmation of their biases.

Anybody who suddenly goes "Oh, I'm now gonna support somebody because their platform's been banned from a country" is at best a deeply unserious person.

[down]

Pretty sure it's more about how Twitter's owner is wielding said platform rather than about just what he's saying on it.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Jan 4th 2025 at 7:01:45 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Fighteer MOD Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17498: Jan 4th 2025 at 10:00:39 AM

Reminder: Elon Musk being an ass on social media is not an appropriate topic for this thread and we will thump as necessary.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17499: Jan 4th 2025 at 10:01:32 AM

Following up in regular mode, it is patently obvious that Britain cannot "ban Twitter", except in the sense of cutting it off for its own citizens, something I seriously doubt will happen. So, this whole debate is moot.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#17500: Jan 4th 2025 at 10:06:03 AM

Fastest way to get any website blocked in the UK would be to prove it's hosting/distributing pirated content,see the pirate bay

have a listen and have a link to my discord server

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