this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2023
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[–] e_mc2@feddit.nl 130 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I seriously doubt this. You have to be very conscious to fully understand what it is these large platforms actually do "behind the scenes". Unfortunately the vast majority of people imo is either completely oblivious or even worse, doesn't care. I mean look at the immense success of tiktok. Numerous warnings that it's nothing less than straight-up spyware from China, yet half the world happily continues to use it.

[–] Shialac@lemmy.world 51 points 1 year ago (2 children)

eh, most other social media sites have been nothing else but spyware from the US, some of them for over a decade

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If anything, that just reenforces his point though

[–] Shialac@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

kinda, but I always thought it was extremely hypocritical of all the people that are "china bad, tiktok bad uhhh spyware" but use instagram and google

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Both types are bad and should be avoided, but I think there is a difference between a private US company invading your privacy, and literal CCP sponsored Spyware, particularly when you're a member of a nation that CCP is actively targeting for espionage and surveillance (not that the US isn't doing likewise, to still the crys of whataboutism)

[–] kava@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago

I would much rather some government on the other side of the planet know my intimate details rather than the government at home who can actually act on that information

They know everything about you.

[–] crab@lemm.ee -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The chance I'll ever go to China is very small, but the chance I'll go to the US is pretty high. Surely the US spying on me is the only one to care about?

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Depends on your personal priorities, I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to care about, I was just elaborating on why people might care more about tik toks spying than Metas. Personally, you won't find either on my phone

[–] e_mc2@feddit.nl 11 points 1 year ago
[–] IronpigsWizard@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I have a friend that uses Tiktok. He has never posted a video on there, just watches crap.

He went to bed one night in August and mentioned that overnight, as he slept, the Tiktok app sent/received 8.6 gbs of data as he slept, the app was closed, screen locked.

I can only imagine what the Tiktok app does if you have a son/daughter with Tiktok on their phone (whether you know or not) and work for a state/federal government.

Very unsettling.

[–] FraidyBear@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Engineering degrees don't always equal smarts, sometimes it's just hard work and a talent in math. I worked with a guy who was graduating with a degree in structural engineering and the guy legitimately thought that vaccines caused autism and that the moon landing was faked. I asked him to let me know what bridges he would be working on around the city so I could be sure to avoid them, then I had to have a talk with HR about bullying in the work place lol

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I wonder if it's just preloading videos or something?

It doesn't take that much data to spy on someone, unless they're sending uncompressed recordings of your friend snoring or something.

[–] IronpigsWizard@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Hmm, your statement just made me ponder sort of the opposite...

I wonder if keeps any plans/videos on his phone of sites he has/is worked/working at.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean the counter I hear is valid, "and Facebook is spyware from the US."

[–] bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Facebook is spyware from a company based in the US. But because of China's economic structure TikTok is a tool of the CCP itself.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Did you forget about Cambridge analytica?

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 68 points 1 year ago

The irony of this article asking me to read it in an app, Christ.

[–] FraidyBear@lemmy.world 63 points 1 year ago
[–] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 37 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Translation: Please don't leave! We need to exploit your private data! 😥

[–] NotAPenguin@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

huh? this article isn't saying anything like that.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

~~No but they're trying to manufacture the appearance that it'll get better so you'll stick around. It's "baby I'm sorry, I know I fucked up but I promise I'll change".~~

They're right; the article is partly about the fediverse.

[–] NotAPenguin@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Again, the article isn't saying anything like that.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 year ago

You know what, you're right.

[–] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Though none of these platforms have tried to make money yet, there are a variety of business paths: Like Threads, platforms could turn to in-app ads, or like Mastodon, platforms could turn to grants, donations, and sponsorships. Since the business model shapes how the platform works, people would be free to set up shop on the platforms they prefer.

[–] timicin@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The fediverse has so little content that it makes it hard to imagine anyone paying for something that gives you less content and participation than any unregistered lurker gets from something like reddit for free

[–] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

The fediverse has so little content

So far.

I would argue that the only reason Reddit and the like is so popular was because of convenience. If the fediverse becomes convenient, people will post.

[–] GentlemanLoser@ttrpg.network 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not on my watch, goddamn it

We shall flame them on the beaches, we shall flame them in the streets.

[–] Khalic@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago

Lol, that’s just bad propaganda

[–] DessertStorms@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago

Lmfao, thanks, I needed a good laugh to start my day with..

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


As people grow tired of toxic and addictive platforms that undermine real social connection, this new wave of social-focused upstarts could end up producing a healthier online environment.

Major platforms such as Facebook have long abandoned their goal to "bring the world closer together" in favor of "profit-motivated and engagement-inducing designs" that keep us hooked and drive growth, Ben Grosser, an artist and faculty associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, told me.

No matter how fun group chats and breakout social apps such as BeReal are, I've missed the borderless experience that large platforms offer — a place where I can discover viral content, expand my network, and participate in global conversations.

At its best, Steve Teixeira, the chief product officer at Mozilla, said that social media facilitated connection, regardless of geographic or temporal boundaries, and helps people stay informed, encounter novel ideas, and access vital services.

And experts have found that a collection of networks would "optimize itself solely for public good," rather than fall into the pitfalls of traditional platforms — an unhealthy obsession with metrics and meaningless interactions.

It's hard to predict the future, least of all when it comes to online services where new apps can go viral — and then fail — in a flash, but the breakup of monolithic social-media platforms and the rise of myriad new social experiences has felt like an urgent, long-overdue turn of events.


The original article contains 2,074 words, the summary contains 239 words. Saved 88%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] gredo@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Well shortened, but most of the meaning got lost.

TL;DR:

The big platforms are losing pull and users, more small platforms or group chats emerge.

That makes it harder for people or public entities to reach a big audience.

Then I stopped reading.

[–] wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I literally deleted my accounts on those exact 3 sites as the thumbnail just 2 days ago.

I'm in this picture and I like it.

[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Or potentially finding newer and more exciting ways to be toxic. But I'll hope for that first thing.

[–] StalksEveryone@futurology.today 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

meanwhile, the fuck spez collage sores reddit usage. elon responds by sending over boxes of condoms via uber eats.

[–] radix@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago
[–] dasgoat@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Nah we're about to Come to a point where we can't even afford to shitpost because they're making everything suck or paid.

Also I need social media to stay just a little bit toxic, you motherfuckers <3