I nominate this for, "Paragraph of the Century"!

[kenny]

This is how America got so broken.
... and in keeping with the poisonous essence of Social Media I'm convieeeeeently not mentioning the source.

"In the work I do looking at the reliability of online news and information, I can see that the erosion of trust in basic facts is largely the result of too many people getting their news from social media platforms. What they see there may be highly opinionated, one-sided, boiled down to a few words or catchy phrases, or taken out of context, come from people with undisclosed credentials or agendas, or be just plain made up. And it’s all sorted out and presented by algorithms designed to engage them to spend more time on the platform by offering up content that will excite rather than inform, and please them rather than challenge them, by reinforcing what they already believe."

 

[Slickk]

This is true. Now do MSM.

 

[MissGotRocks]

So true. I have a friend who thinks she is well informed but admits that most of her information comes from social media. Just amazes me but I find it terribly frightening as well.

 

[kenny]

Lately I often read the term "my truth".

Like 'cancelled', this new use for the old word "truth" is what I see as language-rot.

By definition, there can not be 8 billion truths.
However, there are 8 billion perspectives.

Social media has become the drug of choice.
All day long it delivers hits of dopamine, perfectly customized for what you think is "your truth".
It's made us all obese with narcissism, and has made drug dealers like Zuckerturd and Musky filthy rich.

If there are 8 billion my truths, then truth itself has been cancelled.

 

[Karl_K]

20 people can watch an event and see 20 different things, Which is the truth?
News is never truth it is only perception and the major news companies are no better than social media when it comes to being an echo chamber pandering to their followers.

 

[kenny]

20 people can watch an event and see 20 different things, Which is the truth?
News is never truth it is only perception and the major news companies are no better than social media when it comes to being an echo chamber pandering to their followers.

Not quite true.
Major new sources are a one-way thing; Social media is a two way thing.

Everyone see the same thing at regular news sites
But everyone sees different stuff on their social media news feed. - They see what makes them feel groovy, stimulated, angry.
They push your personal buttons to hold onto your eyeballs as long as possible.

SM sites require you to agree to their terms.
If you don't agree, you don't get in .
Those terms require you allow them to spy on every keystroke you make.
They use their massive data file on you to sell your personal info for personally targeted ads.
Also SM uses sophisticated algorithms that feed you news that conforms to YOUR world view.
That makes you feel the world is how you feel it should be.

Very addicting, but not real.

 

[Calliecake]

So true. I have a friend who thinks she is well informed but admits that most of her information comes from social media. Just amazes me but I find it terribly frightening as well

I think we may have one of the the same friends @MissGotRocks.

 

[TooPatient]

Not quite true.
Major new sources are a one-way thing; Social media is a two way thing.

Everyone see the same thing at regular news sites
But everyone sees different stuff on their social media news feed. - They see what makes them feel groovy, stimulated, angry.
They push your personal buttons to hold onto your eyeballs as long as possible.

SM sites require you to agree to their terms.
If you don't agree, you don't get in .
Those terms require you allow them to spy on every keystroke you make.
They use their massive data file on you to sell your personal info for personally targeted ads.
Also SM uses sophisticated algorithms that feed you news that conforms to YOUR world view.
That makes you feel the world is how you feel it should be.

Very addicting, but not real.

Yes and no. It depends on how you use it. Who are your "friends" or whatever. I have a very not uniform list of "friends" so generally see all sorts of different "news" stories including completely contradictory. Some are good about sharing from good news sources or solid academic places (if it is something like medical information) and others aren't as careful. I have seen some real crazy things from each end of the spectrum in recent years!

A "friend" of mine doesn't keep differing views. She goes through and cleans out her list of "friends" to ensure no one who disagrees with her views remains. I am quite sure she sees nothing except what fits her opinions. I have one narrow topic I talk with her on (animal rescue), but I see the "discussions" on her posts where everyone says the same thing. No actual information. No discussing different views. Just everyone agreeing.

Ads are.... scary. I get disturbingly targeted ads on SM, MSM, and many good information sites I visit. Even with phone and computer as secured as possible, they still target. Where SM is a bit "better" (maybe? If you see it as better?) is that the targeted stuff is not just what they think that I am interested in but things "friends" have been interested in so I might be too. Gets interesting some days as I have ads for everything from kinky bedroom outfits to adult diapers and everything in between .

Which is not to say SM is good or bad. I just wanted to share that the experience seems to vary wildly based on who you connect with and how you use it.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I think we may have one of the the same friends @MissGotRocks.

Might be! Problem is she thinks she is well informed enough to discuss an issue but it is clear she is not. Scary because a lot of people probably make their decisions based on erroneous information!!!

 

[Matata]

Social media is people -- people who are adept at manipulating and people who are easily manipulated. The responsibility and blame are, imo, equally shared. I will refrain from my usual rant about the importance of critical thinking and instead attach a statement I saved during the pandemic that has relevance to this discussion.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

This is how America got so broken.
... and in keeping with the poisonous essence of Social Media I'm convieeeeeently not mentioning the source.

"In the work I do looking at the reliability of online news and information, I can see that the erosion of trust in basic facts is largely the result of too many people getting their news from social media platforms. What they see there may be highly opinionated, one-sided, boiled down to a few words or catchy phrases, or taken out of context, come from people with undisclosed credentials or agendas, or be just plain made up. And it’s all sorted out and presented by algorithms designed to engage them to spend more time on the platform by offering up content that will excite rather than inform, and please them rather than challenge them, by reinforcing what they already believe."

too true Kenny

i still like to get a lot of my news from my hometown newspaper, which is NZ's oldest daily and is still fiercly inderpendant, i do have to get it on line because they dont send it to the North Island due to air freight costs nowdays

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yes and no. It depends on how you use it. Who are your "friends" or whatever. I have a very not uniform list of "friends" so generally see all sorts of different "news" stories including completely contradictory. Some are good about sharing from good news sources or solid academic places (if it is something like medical information) and others aren't as careful. I have seen some real crazy things from each end of the spectrum in recent years!

A "friend" of mine doesn't keep differing views. She goes through and cleans out her list of "friends" to ensure no one who disagrees with her views remains. I am quite sure she sees nothing except what fits her opinions. I have one narrow topic I talk with her on (animal rescue), but I see the "discussions" on her posts where everyone says the same thing. No actual information. No discussing different views. Just everyone agreeing.

Ads are.... scary. I get disturbingly targeted ads on SM, MSM, and many good information sites I visit. Even with phone and computer as secured as possible, they still target. Where SM is a bit "better" (maybe? If you see it as better?) is that the targeted stuff is not just what they think that I am interested in but things "friends" have been interested in so I might be too. Gets interesting some days as I have ads for everything from kinky bedroom outfits to adult diapers and everything in between .

Which is not to say SM is good or bad. I just wanted to share that the experience seems to vary wildly based on who you connect with and how you use it.

boring 'friend' group
excuse the crude expression but a bit of a circle jerk