SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
#DeleteFacebook trends in response to Cambridge Analytica
We all moved on from MySpace. We can move on from Facebook too." This was a typical message found on Twitter in the wake of accusations over Cambridge Analytica using personal data from 50 million Facebook users to influence the US presidential election in 2016. After reports of Cambridge Analytica using Facebook's user information came to light, people began to urge others to either #DeleteFacebook or #BoycottFacebook in response.
[...] A spokeswoman for Privacy International warned that privacy concerns extend beyond Facebook as "your data is being exploited all the time". A person on the technology subsection of Reddit agreed, saying removing Facebook "doesn't solve the long term problem [because] consent to data use is very weakly protected online right now". And one Twitter user seeking regulation of Facebook said having the ability to delete an account is "a privilege".
This is a campaign we can all get behind, regardless of your position on election interference and influences.
Previously: The Cambridge Analytica Files
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday March 21 2018, @10:26AM (2 children)
So people/users are finally, for the first time, realizing what the business model for Facebook and similar companies are? Now they are angry about it? I wonder if it will spread to the other companies that have a similar business model like ... all of the new big companies actually.
"we all moved from MySpace. We can move from Facebook too." Sure but where are you moving to and who are you going to give you data away to instead? They are all the same really. Social Media companies are in the data business they are not about being your internet friend or just helping you chat with friends business. Isn't it somewhat naive to believe that the next company will be any better. Perhaps this will be the resurgence of Google+, they can all go hang out there cause Google is the "not evil" company ...
That said I do wonder how long this will last and how many will actually "delete" their account, like Facebook would actually delete any of their precious data. A common trend in Facebook or Social media activism has been that a lot of people might "like" or say they are doing things online but once actual change of physical manifestations are involved they do not materialize -- more people "like" things then actually show up to them. Talk is cheap but nothing is cheaper then a like on Facebook.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Hyperturtle on Wednesday March 21 2018, @05:23PM (1 child)
Attention spans are short. I am hoping that people learn to do without certain conveniences, but if the whole dopamine hit thing is true, they will be back at it like someone who swears off cigarettes without finding a replacement activity. Facebook and cigarettes seem to fill the world with reminders for people to come back to them. Quitting cold and not going back takes admirable resilience.
Facebook even has more peer pressure to return than an additiction to any given drug, too, so the chances are likely slimmer since there's the guilt manipulation and it costs nothing to quickly log in and take a peek. Cigarettes at least have immediate and direct monetary costs that have to be paid for in exchange for the goods..
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday March 21 2018, @06:24PM
The big shopping mall in downtown Portland has computer projectors mounted on the ceiling, pointed at the floor.
Projected on the floor are a bunch of square tiles. This is irresistible to children: if they try to step on a tile it jumps out of the way of their foot.
I admire the engineering but I am horrified with the graphic on those tiles: Like buttons.
There's a good reason there's a law that forbids websites from signing up kids under thirteen.
I wonder if these dodging tiles could be some manner of crime? That would go up to eleven.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]