The threat
I know people who enjoy being on Facebook. Me? I despise Facebook and most social media. I know, I know. Being in touch with family, blah, blah, blah... groups of friends, blah, blah, blah, the pandemic, blah, blah blah.... None of that makes Facebook attractive to me. Really. Oh, yes, glad you asked: I used to be on Facebook. Back when you needed a .edu email address to sign up and it was restricted to institutions of higher ed. It was basically a sounding board that would let you know where the best parties and the hottest grad students would hang out. It was not the behemoth it is today, the cesspool of fuckery that basically aided IMPOTUS and his minions to stage a wannabe coup. Yeah, it manipulates the ‘news’ people get when they are on it and serves as disinformation central for low-information voters and that's only one of the reasons I refuse to go on it.
Infidel was talking about technological power and even though it is true that the acumen of knowledge rests on the people who believe in science and the tangible, the superstitions and the narrow-minded also take advantage of technology. Don't believe me? The attempted coup by the MAGAts last week was all planned in real time online. Facebook played an important role, even though they deny it.
Now (a dollar short and a day too late) Facebook is deleting posts with 'Stop the Steal'. But rest assured that will not last long. Facebook allows hate speech in its platform because it brings clicks and people. Clicks and people mean money to them. Your information is what they are after. And that's all they care about. YOU are the currency on Facebook.
And the thing is, we will be more and more in the clutches of social media giants and we will not even notice. Facebook owns WhatsApp and Instagram now. WhatsApp (the app my sister uses) will demand its users to allow Facebook to have their data or they won't be able to use it. Instagram is integrated now with Facebook and you can log on IG using your Facebook account. All your photos on IG now belong to Facebook. Talk about providing material for face-recognition software.
I think 2021 would be ideal for you to leave Facebook and I'm not alone. But if you're not ready, at least then use Facebook in your browser only and delete your app. Hey, the less you let Facebook know about you, the better. And no, I am not donning my tinfoil hat while typing this. It's something that has been discussed many, many times.
Now, you'd say that I'm on Blogger, using Chrome and that I should keep my trap shut. Well, my issues with Google (and Blogger, and YouTube, which are both Google products) are another story...
XOXO
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I have never created a Facebook profile because I do not care, or to say better: I avoid, precisely what it proposes: to stay in touch with the people of the past that you have lost. Old classmates from elementary schools, high schools, university ... Just the ones I honestly don't give a damn about.
ReplyDeleteI'm on Instagram, with an "abstract" profile here, but to see other people's photos. I'm also on twitter (here), but without my personal photos. And then I'm here, on blogspot, as you know, here.
I just followed you on Twitter.
DeleteAbsolutely agree.
DeleteI did not want to talk to those assholes when I was in high school or college. I definitely don't want to talk to them NOW. Good riddance.
It's smart to use social media for our own benefit (like all the porn we can find on Twitter). And that's how it should be.
XOXO
I'm following you as well!
DeleteI do have FB and IG. IG sits fallow, FB gets maybe a post once or twice per week. I never got sucked down that rabbit hole. Now, blogger, of course, is a different story. This feels more...personally connected, a better way to actually communicate one's thoughts. Without this particular platform, I wouldn't have met you, or Maddie, or Upton, or, or, or.... 😉😎 XOXO
ReplyDeleteI think that as long as we control how much info FB and IG get, and if our privacy settings are set correctly, the platforms may be manageable. Also, using them from a desktop computer helps.
DeleteBlogger, on the other side, does feel more personal. Of course, long post format allows for that, because we explore issues much more and are able to write thought pieces that are more rounded. You are right. We're lucky we have Blogger and I'm lucky I have you guys.
XOXO
I do use Facebook, but mostly to have private chats with West Coast family. I am on Twitter, too, and find it kinda fun, especially on a big news day. That's about it.
ReplyDeleteFB can be useful, I know.
DeleteI use WhatsApp to chat with my sister, and it belongs to Facebook, too. So I'm snarled in their clutches, like it or not.
Twitter is a good news aggregator. Once google reader went the way of the dinosaurs, Twitter can be used to get news from several sources at the same time.
XOXO
"Cesspool of fuckery" -- yup, that about sums it up!
ReplyDeleteHaha it is!
DeleteI have seen people literally shut down their phones in frustration during the Cheeto administration, it was so infuriating.
XOXO
FUCKBOOK AND MARK FUCKERBERG CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES! no FB, IG, SC, or twit for me!
ReplyDeletePS - go check your e-mail; I left you another message.
Maybe you should send him a message on My Space 😝
DeleteLOL you tel l them, Anne Marie!
DeleteAnd I did not get anything! Ugh. I'll send you an email to see if you get it.
And bae, did you know that I lost my MySpace password and cannot recover it because I don't remember what email addy I used to open it? Hahaha
XOXO
No FB, IG or SC here. Twitter has never gotten a post from me. If I want someone to see I liked something, I usually text them a link to the post. I guess I’m anti-social 😎.
ReplyDeleteXOXO 👨❤️💋👨
Well, being on social media really not a NEED. At least not for us. I also text anybody if I want to let them know something. It's not like when we were all on MySpace and popularity was measured by the number of 'friends' you had. Isn't that true, Tila Tequila?
DeleteXOXO
I use Facebook, but I only friend people I know personally. I usually stay in the local city groups to keep up with things about town. It is how I found out about the protest against the white supremacist party down the street a few months ago. Facebook is a tool (to me), no different than a microwave. Although, the memes crack me up!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good strategy. It's a bulletin board, basically.
DeleteWhat I don't like about Facehook is their intrinsic snooping into our lives. They are watching our every keystroke (not to mention that they know our mom's maiden name and if we're home this weekend).
The memes are funny. I can imagine the deluge of Bernie memes after Biden's ceremony!
XOXO
The only thing I was on was Blogger, till Ms Moorecock said I needed an Instagram. I find it fun for my pictures, but am seriously considering getting of it . The only problem is with the live chats and connects to drag queen sis's....it works out so well as we can be in touch like that, and most of us queens found Instagram to be the best user friendly platform. We shall see. I almost thought of ending my blog also at one point.
ReplyDeleteBut Facebook. A friend worked there and left some time ago. It made him sick. All he would ever say is you have no idea the information they have on users...all three platforms really. So I shall see about Instagram. I feature a lot of photo and work I do on that that I don't do on my blog. And 95% of the people I follow like jimmy are people I know.
Oh, I totally see why a Drag performer would need IG. It would work as part of a business model. Ms. Moorecock was right. And IG is not as intrusive as FB, where performers would have to use their given names and all that.
DeleteAnd don't you dare end your blog. We love it.
I can imagine that someone who knows the inner workings of Facehook would be disgusted. They know EVERYTHING about some people because those people give it all up voluntarily. With IG I think there's a level of control (making it private or allowing only people who ask for a follow to follow you) but it does have its risks.
XOXO
Facebook only once in the morning just to keep up on Navy buddies. I do look at Twitter and Instagram , but only the 5 or 6 people I follow. Smart people manage their media, dumb ones don't and usually end up getting nominated for a Darwin award.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense.
DeleteTwitter is good for news, because it gives you a view of the headlines of the day and then you can just dive in what you find interesting. It's useful.
Hahaha a Darwin award. It should be bestowed upon some MAGAts.
XOXO
Do you live in my head? Is that you in there? I'm asking because we just seem to keep thinking the same thoughts. I was on Facebook for a day. After getting bombarded with friend requests from people from my past, I deleted my account. No. I knew right then and there that this was dangerous and not for me. I mean, my feelings get hurt if someone blocks my profile on Grndr or they don't answer back when I say Hi. I am not built emotionally for Facebook. And... I just don't like it. All those people in your business. Hell, no. That biz is mine... to share on my blog which exists in an alternate universe :) Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteLOL Oh, Upton. I sometimes ask myself the same!
DeleteFacehook is overwhelming. It was overwhelming when it started, so I can imagine now. And you are right. We don't want to be friends with those people. Ever again. And you know what's twisted? Sometimes is not THEM, it's Facehook's algorithm that suggests the matches because people give it their high school, college and graduation date. Boom! It's the information we give it what dooms us.
And Grindr.. oh, Grindr. That's a whole other can of worms.
I also leave my oversharing for Blogger. It's more fun.
XOXO