How bad is Facebook now?
Discussion
I remember joining Facebook in around 2007 when it used to be fairly logical to use - i.e you had a select group of friends and family on there and were able to share a series of memories, photos and updates. I remember it being quite addictive at the time but at least whatever was posted made to an audience that seemed relevant. I also do not recall any form of targeted advertising or any content regurgitation based on whatever you have clicked on before e.t.c.
Over the years I weened right off it and culled a load of contacts, ending up in me having a small account that I barely used. However I have seemingly been drawn back into it all last year and having seen the sheer amount of rubbish and misinformation on there, I find it genuinely concerning. I started trying to advertise my small business across local groups as of last January, and having committed to that I have learnt a great deal about just how pointless and futile it all is. Obviously it is free to advertise, however I believe there is no reach. The groups are full of adverts for the same old businesses, and from my experience people are not really watching or engaging no matter how good the adverts are. And I must admit I don't watch other people's because they bore me to tears, no doubt just like how my advert bored them to tears. So nobody wins. Then there is audience size. A tiny proportion of locals will be on these groups, and of the proportion that are only a small proportion of them will actually see / be aware of these adverts. So in the grand scheme of it your exposure is absolutely tiny, a small cohort of a small cohort of people.
But when trying to advertise myself and deal with this side of Facebook, I have been suffocated with utter, utter tripe. Fake news, fake stories and AI generated bull. And I mean suffocated with it. My feed literally throws the same rubbish at me and nothing else - AI generated stories that are completely made up. These include music icons doing their "final tour" or "last concert", as well as loads and loads of people who seem to post their lives all over Facebook as their main job - mostly females who dress inappropriately and take really provocative pictures with lots of flesh on show or similar. I have also had these posts spill over into adult related content, clearly designed to lure you in and make you click on it. But the sheer volume of it is unmanageable, rendering around 75% of my feed completely irrelevant. I constantly click on "not interested" or "don't show this again" yet still it pours in day after day. Sometimes these fake posts have tonnes of comments where people 1) Believe in the post and 2) Actually think someone is reading the responses. Legalised lying basically.
I am now actively trying to not use FB again, I have given up advertising and stop myself doom scrolling. But no wonder there has been the news article about the concern over kids. The platform is SO unhealthy and bad for the mind, and it makes me realise we really have become a state of lemmings, mindlessly scrolling through reels and reels of utter bull to pass our days. I often look around me on the train and see people of all background and ages doing the exact same on their phones, reel after reel of fabricated and over engineered tripe posted to lure in the viewer. It really is damaging.
Anyway rant over but I wondered how many people were actually aware of how much the platform has changed and also how addictive it is, as opposed to not being aware and allowing themselves to drown in a world of fakeness.
Over the years I weened right off it and culled a load of contacts, ending up in me having a small account that I barely used. However I have seemingly been drawn back into it all last year and having seen the sheer amount of rubbish and misinformation on there, I find it genuinely concerning. I started trying to advertise my small business across local groups as of last January, and having committed to that I have learnt a great deal about just how pointless and futile it all is. Obviously it is free to advertise, however I believe there is no reach. The groups are full of adverts for the same old businesses, and from my experience people are not really watching or engaging no matter how good the adverts are. And I must admit I don't watch other people's because they bore me to tears, no doubt just like how my advert bored them to tears. So nobody wins. Then there is audience size. A tiny proportion of locals will be on these groups, and of the proportion that are only a small proportion of them will actually see / be aware of these adverts. So in the grand scheme of it your exposure is absolutely tiny, a small cohort of a small cohort of people.
But when trying to advertise myself and deal with this side of Facebook, I have been suffocated with utter, utter tripe. Fake news, fake stories and AI generated bull. And I mean suffocated with it. My feed literally throws the same rubbish at me and nothing else - AI generated stories that are completely made up. These include music icons doing their "final tour" or "last concert", as well as loads and loads of people who seem to post their lives all over Facebook as their main job - mostly females who dress inappropriately and take really provocative pictures with lots of flesh on show or similar. I have also had these posts spill over into adult related content, clearly designed to lure you in and make you click on it. But the sheer volume of it is unmanageable, rendering around 75% of my feed completely irrelevant. I constantly click on "not interested" or "don't show this again" yet still it pours in day after day. Sometimes these fake posts have tonnes of comments where people 1) Believe in the post and 2) Actually think someone is reading the responses. Legalised lying basically.
I am now actively trying to not use FB again, I have given up advertising and stop myself doom scrolling. But no wonder there has been the news article about the concern over kids. The platform is SO unhealthy and bad for the mind, and it makes me realise we really have become a state of lemmings, mindlessly scrolling through reels and reels of utter bull to pass our days. I often look around me on the train and see people of all background and ages doing the exact same on their phones, reel after reel of fabricated and over engineered tripe posted to lure in the viewer. It really is damaging.
Anyway rant over but I wondered how many people were actually aware of how much the platform has changed and also how addictive it is, as opposed to not being aware and allowing themselves to drown in a world of fakeness.
There's no denying it's crap and your feed is primarily adverts these days but you can use a plugin called facebook purity which blocks promoted posts and spam. you can of course ensure your feed is more of what you like by liking pages or following pages within your interests, that said you'll still be subjects to AI crap and click bait headlines trying to get you to go on to a website to read a made up story that's just full of ads and that's just Reach PLC.
I don't know of any real people that posts on it, can't remember when I saw a mate post anything.
I don't know of any real people that posts on it, can't remember when I saw a mate post anything.
I feel exactly the same as you. And find myself mindlessly scrolling through nonsense and then asking myself what the hell are you doing.
Sitting watching my young daughter at her swimming lesson yesterday in the spectator area with all the other parents, I was the only one not looking at my phone the whole time.
Obvious AI nonsense that people seem to accept at face value without a second thought, clickbait articles trying to scare people (Weather, power cuts etc) and stupid reels designed to hold your attention for as long as possible. Local tarts trying to make themselves look 20 years younger and half of them trying to sell OF accounts. Probably says more about me than anything else that I'm wasting 5 minutes out of my life to look at this s
t out of pure boredom. But at least not whilst I'm with my daughter.
Sitting watching my young daughter at her swimming lesson yesterday in the spectator area with all the other parents, I was the only one not looking at my phone the whole time.
Obvious AI nonsense that people seem to accept at face value without a second thought, clickbait articles trying to scare people (Weather, power cuts etc) and stupid reels designed to hold your attention for as long as possible. Local tarts trying to make themselves look 20 years younger and half of them trying to sell OF accounts. Probably says more about me than anything else that I'm wasting 5 minutes out of my life to look at this s
t out of pure boredom. But at least not whilst I'm with my daughter.My parents have both discovered Facebook in the last few months. Both spend hours a day just scrolling through, reading the recommended articles and watching the videos.
In the space of three months my mother has gone from a reasonably rational person to an angry trump hating, immigrant hating conspiracy theorist. I believe this has not been helped by spending the last three months travelling around spain in their campervan and mixing with similar age, similar background english people.
If you so happen to say anything against her views it errupts into a massive argument. A few weeks ago she was telling me that I shouldn't be buying any meat from Tesco anymore as it is all Halal.
Honestly you can see her scrolling through the stories, absorbing everything and just getting more and more angry about everything.
In the space of three months my mother has gone from a reasonably rational person to an angry trump hating, immigrant hating conspiracy theorist. I believe this has not been helped by spending the last three months travelling around spain in their campervan and mixing with similar age, similar background english people.
If you so happen to say anything against her views it errupts into a massive argument. A few weeks ago she was telling me that I shouldn't be buying any meat from Tesco anymore as it is all Halal.
Honestly you can see her scrolling through the stories, absorbing everything and just getting more and more angry about everything.
Sheets Tabuer said:
I don't know of any real people that posts on it, can't remember when I saw a mate post anything.
Same. We all used to laugh about people posting pics of their tea and suchlike, but better that than all the bilge mentioned above.I find it still has a use for geek posts (in my case cars, trains, old pop music) but the endless hate and attention-seeking make it less and less attractive. Thank God for PH.
It's what you make of it. The reels and stories are there if you want them, and you can still visit and post on friends pages. There are ads and the like but that's not unique to Facebook.
I've no real interest in using it for catching up with friends anymore, but it's very useful for some things. Owners clubs, interest pages, buying/selling groups etc, (since they've now largely replaced internet forums).
I've no real interest in using it for catching up with friends anymore, but it's very useful for some things. Owners clubs, interest pages, buying/selling groups etc, (since they've now largely replaced internet forums).
Pebbles167 said:
It's what you make of it. The reels and stories are there if you want them, and you can still visit and post on friends pages. There are ads and the like but that's not unique to Facebook.
Very much my outlook on it. I actually do like seeing how people are doing, although you can tell the ones who love to show you life is perfection vs the normal people. If you go down the rabbit hole of cr@p, your feed does end up full of related things and often you wonder why it's showing you these things.
But, there are some fantastic car groups on there. I prefer a forum like this but for hobbies, FB can be brilliant. I belong to a few really excellent car groups. I actually started a S/CL Class group which has a surprising number of members and it's really nice. Groups tend to be good if the admin behind it are sound and you can make nice friendly groups.
Also sold four cars via FB with minimal fuss too. Although that is a minefield to be honest haha
Pebbles167 said:
It's what you make of it. The reels and stories are there if you want them, and you can still visit and post on friends pages. There are ads and the like but that's not unique to Facebook.
I've no real interest in using it for catching up with friends anymore, but it's very useful for some things. Owners clubs, interest pages, buying/selling groups etc, (since they've now largely replaced internet forums).
I'm the same. The "Main" Facebook feed is a complete waste of time and is full of OF wannabees and AI guff, but the Groups that cater to particular interests, hobbies or even geographic locations can be informative and useful. When my mum was beginning to struggle with coping with her large gaden, I joined the Village Community group for her village and posted up asking for recommendations for local gardeners and soon had loads of help for her - some for free. The local buy and sell group are helpful for obvious reasons, and the car and motorbike groups often provide helpful advice.I've no real interest in using it for catching up with friends anymore, but it's very useful for some things. Owners clubs, interest pages, buying/selling groups etc, (since they've now largely replaced internet forums).
My running club has a Group for members only and it is an easy way for people to keep up to date with news, events and suchlike.
TL:DR Facebook is generally hopeless but has some good parts
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
My parents have both discovered Facebook in the last few months. Both spend hours a day just scrolling through, reading the recommended articles and watching the videos.
In the space of three months my mother has gone from a reasonably rational person to an angry trump hating, immigrant hating conspiracy theorist. I believe this has not been helped by spending the last three months travelling around spain in their campervan and mixing with similar age, similar background english people.
If you so happen to say anything against her views it errupts into a massive argument. A few weeks ago she was telling me that I shouldn't be buying any meat from Tesco anymore as it is all Halal.
Honestly you can see her scrolling through the stories, absorbing everything and just getting more and more angry about everything.
We’re not related are we In the space of three months my mother has gone from a reasonably rational person to an angry trump hating, immigrant hating conspiracy theorist. I believe this has not been helped by spending the last three months travelling around spain in their campervan and mixing with similar age, similar background english people.
If you so happen to say anything against her views it errupts into a massive argument. A few weeks ago she was telling me that I shouldn't be buying any meat from Tesco anymore as it is all Halal.
Honestly you can see her scrolling through the stories, absorbing everything and just getting more and more angry about everything.
I had it but rarely used it, wife also. She left it the other week, I joined her. Hers a bit harder to get rid of, as had Instagram too.
But it’s gone now, good riddance.
I stopped using FB about 5 years ago and disabled my profile 2 years ago. I haven't deleted my profile entirely just in case I need to contact a family member who is only on Facebook, as my family is scattered around the globe.
The feeling of freedom from not even having the urge to go on Facebook is refreshing. Sometimes I do wonder what so and so is up to these days, but I'm not curious enough to go on Facebook to try to find out. Facebook is all ads and I've curated an advertising-free life for myself due to not watching TV and using Adblock and pihole to erase internet ads. I watch a lot of Youtube and pay for Premium so get no ads apart from those sponsored ad reads, but those are very easy ti skip. I use no social media at all unless you count PH as social media. Life is better being a grumpy old fart!
The feeling of freedom from not even having the urge to go on Facebook is refreshing. Sometimes I do wonder what so and so is up to these days, but I'm not curious enough to go on Facebook to try to find out. Facebook is all ads and I've curated an advertising-free life for myself due to not watching TV and using Adblock and pihole to erase internet ads. I watch a lot of Youtube and pay for Premium so get no ads apart from those sponsored ad reads, but those are very easy ti skip. I use no social media at all unless you count PH as social media. Life is better being a grumpy old fart!
I have a personal profile which exists only because I have a business page.
Recently my business page has had comments posted which aren't really on any of my posts. I get an alert (from FB) that X has commented on a post. I click on it to see what was said, and X hasn't commented on any of my posts, but on some random person Y's post (who recently liked my page).
Desperate linking.
Recently my business page has had comments posted which aren't really on any of my posts. I get an alert (from FB) that X has commented on a post. I click on it to see what was said, and X hasn't commented on any of my posts, but on some random person Y's post (who recently liked my page).
Desperate linking.
I only started using Facebook early last year. That was to join a car club site plus a couple of other car sites and two for ex workplace colleagues.
When I go in it is through the My groups selection to go directly to these groups. There isn't a big update frequency on most.
I tend to steer clear of social media like Instagram, Twitter etc.
12 years ago I worked in police ops room and we had calls about arguments and mud slinging on there. Facebook gained a nickname due to the crap on it.
On the rare occasions I see more general stuff it amazes me how much further it has declined over the last few years. So much clickbait and misinformation.
I use you tube fairly regularly for some topics like cars, diy, golf etc but use subscribed sites. I resently made a mistake on clucking a Trump video. Started getting targetted stuff I ignore.
When I go in it is through the My groups selection to go directly to these groups. There isn't a big update frequency on most.
I tend to steer clear of social media like Instagram, Twitter etc.
12 years ago I worked in police ops room and we had calls about arguments and mud slinging on there. Facebook gained a nickname due to the crap on it.
On the rare occasions I see more general stuff it amazes me how much further it has declined over the last few years. So much clickbait and misinformation.
I use you tube fairly regularly for some topics like cars, diy, golf etc but use subscribed sites. I resently made a mistake on clucking a Trump video. Started getting targetted stuff I ignore.
You just have to filter it yourself.
Got some really good stuff on Facebook Marketplace and met some nice sellers.
If you read/watch stuff where the general public are involved then you expose yourself to the discusting/froomin'/appaled people.
I'm a member of a few specialist interest groups which weeds out the general public. The rest is just guff and can entertain you whilst you are on a train.
Got some really good stuff on Facebook Marketplace and met some nice sellers.
If you read/watch stuff where the general public are involved then you expose yourself to the discusting/froomin'/appaled people.
I'm a member of a few specialist interest groups which weeds out the general public. The rest is just guff and can entertain you whilst you are on a train.
It's full of utter tripe these days, clickbait headlines, outlandish stories from 'news' sources no one has every heard of etc. I use it solely for the groups, nothing else. Several times over the past week I've selected various stories and clicked "not interested" in an attempt to purge my feed/algorithm, I'm tired of seeing posts regarding the orange man
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