"Social Media" is societal cancer

[TheFlyingBanana]

I steer well clear of it in the most part - I post on some discussion forums, but avoid Twitter, FB and the rest.

Everywhere I look, it seems to me that the downsides of social media, and the dangers it represents significantly outweigh the positives (although I do recognise there are some).

I just don't think society, and many of its members are emotionally or intellectually equipped to deal with this level of global connectivity and immediacy. It is causing huge problems with children, undermining democracy, trivialising serious issues, and turning the notion of "truth and fact" into an irrelevance.

I genuinely believe it is a significant global threat.

Human society is based on the generally accepted and shared premise that most people are basically honest most of the time. If nobody is able to trust anyone anymore, then social norms break down. If "the truth" becomes nothing more than a loudly shouted opinion at any given point in time, and there are no ramifications for those who are dishonest, then I can't see how society as we know it will continue to function in the longer term.

The law is already being subverted by trial by social media, the US President clearly feels that he has no obligation to the truth whatsoever, and the voice of the mob goes unchallenged and is unnaccountable.

Views?

[TheFlyingBanana]

Jasandjules said:

And what do you think Pistonheads is, when you really break it down?

It isn't the same by any stretch of the imagination.

[TheFlyingBanana]

geeks said:

TheFlyingBanana said:

Jasandjules said:

And what do you think Pistonheads is, when you really break it down?

It isn't the same by any stretch of the imagination.

Its entertaining just how wrong you are!

Please explain how a car-themed message board is the same as Facebook or Twitter?

[TheFlyingBanana]

geeks said:

Please explain how a message board isn't social media..

Ah, ok.

I think you are arguing semantically - "social media" in this context refers to platforms that are designed from the outset to actively network and expand exponentially. One of the very first was called "Six Degrees" (a great name that sums the concept up perfectly) - and essentially established the model that FB and others have used since:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SixDegrees.com

Social Media, in the context I am discussing is not subject, theme or interest specific, rather it is a conduit for all and every voice or interest - it's purpose is to spread rather like a virus, and it does not discriminate in terms of that expansion.

A message board is just that - it is generally themed and is not dynamic in the way FB, Snapchat, Twitter etc are. Further, the content tends to be culturally specific - eg PH mostly will attract English speaking males, with an interest in cars, and a certain income level or above. It is essentially discriminatory and thus to some extent self-managing.

FB is the opposite of that - it is a platform that is designed to be fully inclusive rather than mostly exclusive. Pistonheads does not actively seek out your contacts book, or your friends with the aim of expanding its reach. FB does, that is it's modus operandi. FB is now essentially a broadcaster where everyone who is a user has a means to shout loudly, with few constraints, and with little to no responsibility. PH is essentially a niche narrowcaster - very different.

[TheFlyingBanana]

Moonhawk said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The biggest threat to humanity is people believing st that isn't true. It was the case 2000 year ago in the Middle East, and it's the case here and now. Nothing much has changed other than the means of delivery of the untrue st.

Yep. All social media has done is given a wider audience to people who spout st.

In the past the village idiot talked st down the pub - you might get one or two people believing it - whilst the rest of the pub collectively rolled their eyes and finished their pints.

Now the village idiot has a potential audience of billions (and crucially - millions of other village idiots who will readily pass on their message).

And crucially, can do it instantly and with potentially global reach.

That is the really big, and frightening difference, as the Russians and others have realised only too well...

[TheFlyingBanana]

Terminator X said:

What I find a worry is that some / most people seem to believe all the claptrap spouted on there and indeed in the papers, it's as if the population is getting steadily more daft. The "news" seems to consist of scary headlines these days and often just complete nonsense no where even near the truth.

TX.

Although there has been a dumbing down in many respects, and a trivialisation of fact and truth, I don't think there are necessarily more idiots out there, it is just that FB has handed every one of them a megaphone without any kind of training or behavioural expectations.

[TheFlyingBanana]

skinnyman said:

As above.

Social media, as the name implies, is a reflection of society. There's good points, and bad points, its up to the individual to decide where to look. Remove social media altogether, and travel around the world, and you'll find good & bad points.

Everything, literally everything in life has positives and negatives, which you choose to focus on, is up to you.

I don't think it is anywhere near as simple as that.

The notion of "choice" is extremely complex - a trillion dollar advertising industry is predicated on the knowledge that people and society are influencable in many ways.

Companies such as Cambridge Analytica are the next step in the development of control.

We now live in an age where "free choice" is increasingly becoming an illusion, and I don't think anyone is immune from the technology that exists to shape the way we think.

[TheFlyingBanana]

I wonder if there is a tipping point at which it all becomes just noise?

Somehow, I doubt it, especially for the younger generation who have been raised with smartphones and social media.

In my mid-40's, I find myself actively avoiding as much social media, and indeed advertising in general as I can. I don't watch terrestrial TV anymore - preferring Netflix and Amazon.

However, seeing how my children use social media, and how integrated it is in to their lives, makes me feel old and out of touch. Perhaps in a good way though...