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Last week, the titans of tech Zoomed into a congressional hearing for a flogging through their computer screens. Members of the House Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law interrogated the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook over concerns that they're becoming monopolies and abusing their power.
Both Democrats and Republicans directed much of their wrath at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Congressional trustbusters blasted him for buying up Instagram and WhatsApp. Acquiring competitors to neutralize them is a classic move in the monopoly playbook. But the lawmakers' gripes with the company went far beyond typical antitrust concerns.
"Facebook is profiting off and amplifying disinformation that harms others, because it's profitable," said the subcommittee's chairman, David Cicilline (D-R.I.). Cicilline and other lawmakers suggested Facebook is allowing proliferation of conspiracy theories, bogus information and hate because it's the type of content that keeps users engaged. "The more engagement there is, the more money you make on advertising," Cicilline told Zuckerberg.
Both Democrats and Republicans directed much of their wrath at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Congressional trustbusters blasted him for buying up Instagram and WhatsApp. Acquiring competitors to neutralize them is a classic move in the monopoly playbook. But the lawmakers' gripes with the company went far beyond typical antitrust concerns.
"Facebook is profiting off and amplifying disinformation that harms others, because it's profitable," said the subcommittee's chairman, David Cicilline (D-R.I.). Cicilline and other lawmakers suggested Facebook is allowing proliferation of conspiracy theories, bogus information and hate because it's the type of content that keeps users engaged. "The more engagement there is, the more money you make on advertising," Cicilline told Zuckerberg.
Are Conspiracy Theories Good For Facebook?
Posted from npr.org
Conspiracy Theories
Facebook
Economics
Money
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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I have a radical opinion.. ALL social media (including RP) has a "dark side", and that's most concisely described as the proliferation of "cheap" information. People tend to gauge the credibility of their own opinions by how many others support them. "Facebook", "Twitter", and other platforms offer "instant gratification" in the form of "likes" and "up-votes" that artificially create this sense of "credibility".
The really dangerous part (in my opinion) is that the sheer volume of "false" theories may hide the occasional "true" assertions that come forward... creating a double-edged threat.
The really dangerous part (in my opinion) is that the sheer volume of "false" theories may hide the occasional "true" assertions that come forward... creating a double-edged threat.
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