Ask HN: Do you regret using Social Networking apps? I have the impression that even the owners of the apps have lost control of the algo and that it's really being detrimental to people's lives |
Ask HN: Do you regret using Social Networking apps? I have the impression that even the owners of the apps have lost control of the algo and that it's really being detrimental to people's lives |
Because we can't run our own servers without substantial risks, almost everyone is forced into the walled gardens where network effects make it feasible to economically run the servers, and the administrative staff to keep them running, and somewhat secure. This provides the honeypot that then draws in advertisement and all the ills that go with it, as we're not the customers, we're the product.
I would hope that we can collectively get our security act together, which will as a byproduct make it easy for everyone to run their own servers without risk. But that's always been 20 years off, like fusion power. Everyone seems to think that Linux is good enough, which it isn't, but here we are. 8(
One problem for me about leaving social media is that it limits my chances of getting updates about jobs, and if I start a business, social media is a good way of promoting the business. I wish I was in a financial position where I didn't have to bother about this.
I've been limiting my use of social media (aside Reddit and HN) for almost two weeks now and I've been reading books and doing other things with my time rather than consuming content that isn't beneficial to me.
Check out the Wikipedia article - The Shallows
"""
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. The book claims research shows "online reading" yields lower comprehension than reading a printed page. The Shallows was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction.
"""
It’s mostly endless reels and ads now and I have to scroll for way too long before I see a post from someone I’m connected to/friends with. Bored of it all.
If I were addicted to social media, I imagine I'd have a lot of regret, though.
I regret that it's turned into "get users to view as many ads as possible" by algorithmically generating what is effectively an unlimited timeline of content.
This "unlimited timeline" thing has caused me to stop using several services and greatly reduce my usage of the services I still find valuable, like X. Actually, I think X is the only one I still use (albeit much less).
When they were still social networking they were useful.
There is an argument that they made it too easy to still feel connected. What should have been a phone call to talk to someone got replaced by liking some post from them.
So no, don't regret it, maybe some of the twitter use. Yelling into the abyss is not healthy. But that's not to say we don't need private social networks. Not public. Private. Public social networks are going to need 10 years to reset.
My life has been made better through social media use.
I am more connected to people who live far away. More connected to people of different backgrounds and have connections to people who I never would have met but for the ability to discover shared interests online.
Do you know what was really detrimental to people's lives, being tied to the land by birth and laboring for the benefit of the Pharaoh, King, Lord, Brahman, Sultan, Emperor, etc. And only if you were lucky, you weren't killed in some dumb war, by famine, or just for shits and giggles. Good luck.
We just don’t live in the same echo chamber.