Technology

18 readers

1 users here now

This magazine is dedicated to discussions on the latest developments, trends, and innovations in the world of technology. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a developer, or simply curious about the latest gadgets and software, this is the place for you. Here you can share your knowledge, ask questions, and engage in discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and more. From the impact of technology on society to the ethical considerations of new technologies, this category covers a wide range of topics related to technology. Join the conversation and let's explore the ever-evolving world of technology together!

founded 2 years ago

(Opinion:) You're So Vain, You Probably Think This App Is About You: On Meta and Mastodon (micro.coyotetracks.org)

submitted 2 years ago by GunnarRunnar@kbin.social to c/tech@kbin.social

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Those of you not plugged into the Mastodon community may not be aware of the predominant reaction to Instagram Threads. This started when it was merely rumored, reaching a crescendo with reports that Meta had been talking to a few of the larger Mastodon instances under NDA, presumably to encourage them not to “defederate” with Threads when it came online.1 Let me describe that reaction for you, with only mild exaggeration:

top 7 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] Sir_Osis_of_Liver@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not sure if corporate ball-washer or incredibly naïve. Facebook (not using their attempt at rebranding) have more than enough resources to research new and innovative ways to screw over federated instances for their gain. Their goal isn't to win, it's to completely dominate. But I'm sure a plucky bunch of volunteers stand a chance against a demonstrably malevolent corporation with infinite money.

I've had nothing to do with Facebook or its offshoots since 2015. They've used their algorithms to pump all sorts of disinformation and manufactured outrage at the expense of society. That alone should be enough for people to defederate. The abusive information gathering is just the shit icing on a turd cake.

I will likely be shifting to an instance that defederates from Facebook. If that makes me "toxic", that's a cross I'm willing to bear.

[–] mrbigmouth502@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

So, is kbin.social not defederating from Threads then? I'll be really disappointed if that's the case.

[–] conciselyverbose@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The truly toxic idea, though, is that Mastodon instances should not only refuse to federate with Threads, but they should refuse to federate with other servers that do federate with Threads

It's really, sincerely not. Facebook is a virus and it's impossible to interact with it without being infected.

[–] TwilightVulpine@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As much as Meta is an awful company, it's not a biohazard. The crowds of people in it and who interact with its platforms don't carry it in their bodies like a plague. And this is what it really is about, the people.

I believe defederation is a mistake because this is an opportunity to show people over there, who are possibly freshly out of Twitter and looking for a place to settle in, that there are better platforms to be in.

[–] conciselyverbose@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

it's not a biohazard

No, it's far more malevolent.

The crowds of people in it and who interact with its platforms don't carry it in their bodies like a plague.

Have you explored any of the research on the neurochemistry of social media? It's too early to have a strong foundation, but what's there isn't good. Facebook is absolutely designing their algorithm to change your brain chemistry to suit their purposes, which means lots of toxicity so they can feed your "engagement" to advertisers. It absolutely physically changes your brain, and it's not for the better.

And this is what it really is about, the people.

It's not about the people. It's about whether you can trust their servers talking to yours. It's about how much of the community they can split out into terrible "Facebook compatible" servers that they can bully their way into controlling.

There's no path to federating with anything Facebook owns not being a catastrophe.

[–] TwilightVulpine@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

There is something to what you are saying, but at this point you are overblowing it and otherizing people just because they participate in a social media platform you don't approve of. Yes, social media alters people's neurochemistry, but it doesn't mean Thread's users are mind controlled by Mark Zuckerberg.

And it is about the people. However much you don't like the company itself, and I don't either, there are millions of people there that are worth engaging with. Treating it as a faceless evil monolith is oversimplifying the matter.

It's also almost conspiracionist how these discussions have been going. How exactly will they bully their way into controlling a decentralized ecosystem? If you think Meta can just pressure every admin and none of them would resist, not only that is putting no confidence in the Fediverse, what makes you think defederating is going to prevent that from happening? If you start from the assumption that nobody has any principles and corporate influence can't be resisted, then it's all for nothing. It would be only a matter of time for the Fediverse to be swallowed.

But as far as motivations and structure goes, I don't think it is so fragile.

[–] conciselyverbose@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I'm merely describing the actual real physical changes that Facebook causes, on purpose. Every single click you make on Facebook makes you a worse human being.

Those people are still welcome to join here. They just shouldn't be permitted to do it through a server known to be malicious. Facebook is malware and letting it connect to your server makes your server just as dangerous.

Monopolies don't just exist when you literally only have one choice. Having 90% of the market in and of itself is an extremely powerful position. It happens all the time to decentralized systems.