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

VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#17901: Mar 21st 2025 at 10:51:35 AM

This has to be the most 2025 headline ever:

People Are Using AI to Create Influencers With Down Syndrome Who Sell Nudes

OK. So. Shitheads are taking people's nudes, using "AI" to make them look like they have Down's Syndrome, and using those to populate fake accounts on sites like Fanvue and Fansly (but not OnlyFans, which has better content moderation]]. Said shitheads are then posting the more SFW pics on Instagram to funnel people toward the subscriptions.

Ukrainian Red Cross
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17902: Mar 21st 2025 at 1:14:45 PM

"Okay, so AI porn of kids is out. How about this other group of people who probably shouldn't be sexualised?"

Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#17903: Mar 22nd 2025 at 4:05:48 AM

but

but why

Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17904: Mar 22nd 2025 at 5:08:43 AM

[up]Because a lot of people just kinda suck, and these individuals found an easy way to make money.

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#17905: Mar 22nd 2025 at 10:59:45 AM

Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest

Excerpt:

Elon Musk's social media platform X has suspended several accounts belonging to opposition figures in Turkey amid widespread civil unrest in the country.

Musk, a self-proclaimed protector of free speech, said he acquired X to restore free speech on the platform.

The suspensions come after extensive demonstrations were sparked by the arrest earlier this week of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan's main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu was arrested just hours before he was nominated to be the presidential candidate for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

As someone once said: Disgusted, but not surprised.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Mar 22nd 2025 at 7:00:15 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Shadao Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins.
#17906: Mar 22nd 2025 at 1:51:19 PM

In some ways I salute people who do indeed leave a platform. So many went "I'll leave twitter!" "I'll head to bluesky!" but never did, and still engage in twitter posts.

I think part of the reason is that Bluesky is just too quiet as a social media site. It seems like that if you already have a massive following from Twitter, you're likely to thrive on Bluesky. But if you intend to grow from scratch, tough luck. There seems to be no algorithm to amplify posts, which is not good if you primarily do artworks.

Whereas Twitter at least seems to give me notifications from time to time from randoms. Though it has the opposite problem in that I get bot likes and replies instead of real people.

Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
This is going to be so much fun.
#17907: Mar 23rd 2025 at 9:28:37 PM

[up]Funny thing is that most people who stay are not the artist types but the chatty ones. I guess they find engagement addictive whether they like it or not.

ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#17908: Mar 24th 2025 at 2:02:38 AM

I do keep seeing creatives on Bluesky saying their posts get way more interaction there than on the site formerly known as Twitter despite lower follower counts, but I don’t know if there are other factors at play that cause that.

My musician page
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#17909: Mar 24th 2025 at 2:11:09 AM

Probably because Bluesky has more real people instead of bots.

Disgusted, but not surprised
coinneach from Mordor Since: Apr, 2012 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#17910: Mar 24th 2025 at 8:09:29 AM

Seems to me that people complaining about no/low engagement on Bsky are expecting others to just magically find them via Teh Al Gore Rhythm, despite Bsky very publicly not working that way. I have about 5000 followers due to starter packs and lists, I follow back about half, and only about 20 regularly interact with my posts (and vice versa).

Let's see what fresh fuckwittery the dolts can contrive to torment themselves with this time.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#17911: Mar 24th 2025 at 8:41:53 AM

Ironic: people complain about "The Algorithm" not working to their advantage, then complain about not having one.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#17912: Mar 24th 2025 at 9:01:09 AM

Not sure that these are the same people...

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
coinneach from Mordor Since: Apr, 2012 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#17913: Mar 24th 2025 at 9:12:44 AM

[up]They are. Were you expecting consistency?

Let's see what fresh fuckwittery the dolts can contrive to torment themselves with this time.
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.
#17914: Mar 25th 2025 at 11:14:10 AM

Hollywood Reporter says more young people are interested in social media and content creators than movies and television.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/deloitte-gen-z-creator-content-streaming-price-1236171227/

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#17915: Mar 25th 2025 at 11:22:37 AM

[up] And yet companies still don't realize that continuing to raise prices will drive people away.

Omega1065 Since: Nov, 2023
#17916: Mar 25th 2025 at 12:10:00 PM

[up][up] No shit, Sherlock. Gen Z basically grew up on the Internet.

Btw, do you think that by this rate, TV, as we know it, will go extinct?

king15 Have Faun Since: Mar, 2024
Have Faun
#17917: Mar 25th 2025 at 12:14:07 PM

No. Video did not kill the radio star, even if it did massively eat into his profit. This is the same.

Edited by king15 on Mar 25th 2025 at 7:14:17 PM

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#17918: Mar 25th 2025 at 12:28:17 PM

I could see new movies and series studios starting out on the internet. Glitch Entertainment is a good example.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#17919: Mar 25th 2025 at 1:23:00 PM

How much content created on social media is reacting to movies, music, or games created by industry?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
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
#17920: Mar 25th 2025 at 2:02:04 PM

I'd hate to see movies becoming a series of multiple 2 minutes reels with a minecraft montage on the bottom tho.

Edited by AngelusNox on Mar 25th 2025 at 6:02:22 AM

Inter arma enim silent leges
Risa123 Since: Dec, 2021 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#17921: Mar 25th 2025 at 2:10:04 PM

[up] What about not picking on Minecraft.

PhysicalStamina ain't nothin' but a party y'all (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
ain't nothin' but a party y'all
#17922: Mar 25th 2025 at 3:11:14 PM

I'd hate to see movies becoming a series of multiple 2 minutes reels with a Subway Surfers montage on the bottom.

Do not spare the feelings of those who would not spare yours.
Omega1065 Since: Nov, 2023
#17923: Mar 25th 2025 at 3:55:31 PM

Do you think shit like that would be possible?

Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#17924: Mar 25th 2025 at 4:02:58 PM

It does sound like something some fool would try to get with the tiktok era. Still, something should be done about all the brainrot stuff.

Edited by Blueace on Mar 25th 2025 at 8:03:21 AM

Wake me up at your own risk.
BonsaiForest Since: Jan, 2001
#17925: Mar 26th 2025 at 7:44:24 AM

People will watch what they want to watch.

Throughout history, people have always complained about what's popular. Popular books? They're whatever people find fun. Notice the popularity of James Patterson and his super short chapters.

Popular television? TV was once called "the boob tube." The idea being that stupid people watched it, and what was on it was stupid.

Same thing now.

The most popular scripted thing in existence seems to be a war between singing toilets and humanoids with electronic devices for heads.


Total posts: 18,668
Top