"... elevating it in the stream of material it served to users. Giving priority to Groups, Facebook said, would help people make meaningful connections with like-minded friends. The shift came as Facebook faced criticism that News Feed was susceptible to foreign interference and other manipulation.... In a 2020 Super Bowl ad, it celebrated amateur-rocketry buffs, bouldering clubs and rocking-chair enthusiasts—brought together through Groups.
Nina Jankowicz, a social media researcher at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., said she became alarmed after hearing a Facebook representative advise a European prime minister’s social-media director that Groups were now the best way to reach a large audience on the platform.
'My eyes bugged out of my head,' said Ms. Jankowicz, who studies the intersection of democracy and technology. 'I knew how destructive Groups could be.'
The problem, she said, was that Facebook wasn’t stepping up oversight along with its algorithmic promotion of Groups. Recommendations could take a user from an alternative-health Group to an anti-Covid-lockdown Group to a militia Group in a few clicks.... If Facebook didn’t rethink its approach, she warned, Groups could undermine democracy.... Many of the most successful Groups were under the control of administrators that tolerated or actively cultivated hate speech, harassment and graphic calls for violence, it said, noting that one top Group 'aggregates the most inflammatory news stories of the day and feeds them to a vile crowd that immediately and repeatedly calls for violence.'"
Much as I deplore violence and worry about terrible people organizing quickly, when I read "aggregates the most inflammatory news stories of the day and feeds them to a vile crowd," I thought: Oh, no, that's what my ex-friends say about me!
Posts
79 comments:
I've never gotten a recommendation for an anti-COVID group or a militia group, and I'm a member of several right-of-center groups (private, of course.) I'm sure some people can be radicalized due to the groups feature -- but it isn't Facebook's algorithm doing that to them.
Just get off it. Don't complain about it. Don't talk about it. Just get off. Fill the hole in your life with something better.
only leftist hate is pure.
And now, heeeere's Facebook! Facebook Execs speak
I'd rather these groups were out in the open where all can hear them and not underground.
We are happy to be a part of your 'vile crowd', Althouse. :-)
People will stumble into wrongthink if Facebook does not institute stronger controls.
"aggregates the most inflammatory news stories of the day and feeds them to a vile crowd"
Sounds like Rachel Maddow to me.
Recommendations could take a user from an alternative-health Group to an anti-Covid-lockdown Group to a militia Group in a few clicks.... If Facebook didn’t rethink its approach, she warned, Groups could undermine democracy
This line actually made me LOL.
alternative-health Group? You mean, like the Democrat Party? Or Apple ?
I'm glad a quick internet image search and a little imagination were all it took for me to see Nina Jankowicz with her eyes bugged out of her head.
"Just get off it. Don't complain about it"
That makes no sense as a response to the problem described in the article! How would me personally getting off Facebook solve the problem of violent radical groups quickly organizing on line and causing chaos in my world?
Don't parse it. Don't nitpick it. Don't complain about it. Just get off it.
Starve the Beast.
one top Group 'aggregates the most inflammatory news stories of the day and feeds them to a vile crowd that immediately and repeatedly calls for violence.'
That sure sounds like the "MSM Group" and their fakenews about Saint Floyd's death (e.g WSJ) and/or K. Harris's appeals for money to bail out violent rioters and looters.
Reminds me of global warming.
And the fix is the same. Weird.
Sounds like email lists
Fascist book sucks. I deleted my account and haven't looked back. So sick and tired of the fake unity from the left who is into cancelling everybody who doesn't agree with them.
I mean, if there is one part of our democracy that must be preserved, it is COVID lockdowns.
Groups is the only part of Facebook I use. I have no idea where it would direct me with a few clicks because I don't click. I go to the group for the group. If I wanted random crap, I'd look at the main page. Which I don't.
solve the problem of violent radical groups quickly organizing on line and causing chaos in my world?
Living in rural America, I just can't get my head around "the problem"
What is the goal? Stopping violence?
Nope thats not the problem. President Trump identified the solution. 'The overwhelming show force. Leftist govt agents refused that solution, until they didn't. Now it is fine. As we still have a huge number of armed military bivouacked in our Nation's Capital.
If not violence, since there is no one identifying violence as a problem, what is the goal?
Like pimpin', Progressivin' ain't easy.
rehajm said...Just get off it. Don't complain about it. Don't talk about it. Just get off. Fill the hole in your life with something better.
When my family plans its next reunion on Facebook Groups, I should just let everyone else do the work? Or maybe not show up at all? Yeah, that'll make me popular with the siblings.
When my Spanish learners group discusses a great new resource, I should just plod along and impede my progress because I'm filling the hole in my life with something better?
I belong to a few groups and even used to run one, but I never noticed the shift in emphasis. I ignore facebook's recommendations by default, whether it's people I may know, suggested groups or 'fact checks'. Mostly because they are wrong so often, plus I'm contrary that way. I do the same thing on Linkedin. I do remember that the group I helped run got more than a few nastygrams from facebook about a couple of our members who would from time to time post pictures of guns and share memes with the word Hitler in them. The group was focused on military history and that Hitler was the butt of the jokes didn't seem to matter to the almighty algorithm. Interestingly Mao and Stalin memes never raised a flag.
It's funny because I remember the early days of Daily Kos. It ran the news cycle. Barack Obama gave them first access to his birth certificate. They were like one big gigantic "Facebook group". It wasn't hard to find, because Markos was all over the news. They hosted (then eventually banned) discussions about Diebold election equipment and their election theft.
So yeah, I think the internet has definitely made it easier for people with outlier opinions to find each other and feel like they are part of something, then part of something big, then part of something important. But Facebook isn't the problem. It isn't *that* problem, at least.
Note to self: Never respond to rehajm.
Never thought of Prof Althouse inflaming anything. One of the reasons I abandoned Instapundit for Althouse. I will spend time this morning thinking about the most inflammatory thing I can recall from the blog. It may be the dislike of the word “garner”. If anything happens to that word I don’t see how she can escape responsibility.
Prog 1: We lied and lied and lied to manipulate people into giving us power. Now nobody trusts us. They don't believe anything we say.
Prog 2: We just have to keep them from talking to one another about it. That's when the trouble starts.
Don’t like what Group A is saying or doing? Why not start a Group B and gather like minded people to your cause? I’m guessing (just guessing!) that there will be significantly more people against cultivated hate speech, harassment and graphic calls for violence, than there are for these things. Remember the Nazi’s at Skokie? The 2,000 counter protesters made the 20 Nazi marchers look like the fools and clowns they were. Not exactly Triumph of the Will.
This is America. I get to believe and say vile things. I get to be vile and promote villainy up to the point where I break the law. Don’t like it? Well, you are also free to call me vile, argue against my villainy, and promote better solutions to our common problems. Why be afraid?
Your last line is interesting. I sometimes forget how much you lost simply for being a free speech advocate on your own blog. Pondering that fact makes me wonder if the town the school or the profession you retired from is most responsible for the antipathy to a free exchange of ideas with us deplorables. I think I know but it ain’t worth spelling out here.
"Undermine democracy" needs a definition, or at least an explanation.
The MSM Group's inflammatory news stories contributed to over 3,000 violent deaths.
Note to self: Never respond to rehajm.
Oh, do get off it. What are your words? You're not helping.
Never thought of Prof Althouse inflaming anything.
She frequently posts articles from WaPo and the NYT. They often inflame me if I happen to read them. And I do believe that is the purpose. Shall we say 'provoke' rather than 'inflame'?
This is America. I get to believe and say vile things. I get to be vile and promote villainy up to the point where I break the law. Don’t like it? Well, you are also free to call me vile, argue against my villainy, and promote better solutions to our common problems. Why be afraid?
Well, that's the good old days.
Leftist, as always, enforce societal norms, differently depending on your identified class.
Violence and chaos are not only accepted, but encouraged. Those that disagree with Black Lives Matter, are refused the same ability to demonstrate their free expression. Govt has the power to "keep the peace" to stifle chaos,but they refuse, until opposition starts to demonstrate to advance their concerns. More mostly peaceful protests is the answer. But who truly is seeking an answer?
In the back of my mind I always remember something from Insty. Police exist to protect violent criminals from law abiding citizens.
Brings into focus the 2020 summer of love. That protection is evaporating like rubbing alcohol on a windy day.
When my family plans its next reunion on Facebook Groups, I should just let everyone else do the work? Or maybe not show up at all? Yeah, that'll make me popular with the siblings.
Since you're out of ideas lemme try to get the ball rolling: show up in person.
I too have suffered the slings and arrows from family complaining I'm not on Facebook. What I discovered is they get over it.
The ideas of free speech and freedom of association were just tools to get us in to this moment in time, where now progressives have more power and the right kind of thinking is ascendant. Therefore, we should curb speech and association to kind of seal off bad ideas from usurping the new natural order of things.
I don't have a cellphone and I'm not on facebook. I'm that guy in the family who's hard to get hold of.
Bliss.
We need to make sure people join the right mobs.
"When my family plans its next reunion on Facebook Groups, I should just let everyone else do the work? Or maybe not show up at all? Yeah, that'll make me popular with the siblings."
You could call your siblings and ask "What do you need me to do?"
I ignore facebook's recommendations by default, whether it's people I may know, suggested groups or 'fact checks'.
I ignore all "friend" requests unless family.
My basset hound groups have been pretty tame so far. No biting. MeWe is till figuring out its configuration so I still look at Facebook. It's amusing that the Capitol riot was organized on Facebook, so Parler was banned.
Churchy LaFemme: said...
I don't have a cellphone and I'm not on facebook. I'm that guy in the family who's hard to get hold of.
Bliss.
2/1/21, 8:24 AM
Same. And it is Bliss.
I've never been on FB and family members who were on it got off. Oddly, we still find ways to communicate with each other.
It occurred to me early this morning, as I lay in bed thinking, that we have become slaves to technology. It purportedly serves our needs but we end up serving its needs. I still have a smart phone but am weighing the net benefits vs. the tyranny of the device.
"Violence and chaos are not only accepted, but encouraged."
Indeed, violence is the proof of sincerity, that the grievance is deeply felt.
The left suffers from the quaint bourgeois notion that if they control the inputs, they can control the outputs.
Never thought of Prof Althouse inflaming anything
She ALLOWS free speech to happen here. That is the crime. People who think “easy access to groups I don’t like” is wrongthink/wrongdo have a built-in antipathy to any place that allows people to say what they want to without censorship.
She frequently posts articles from WaPo and the NYT. They often inflame me if I happen to read them. And I do believe that is the purpose.
You think the purpose is to rile you up rather than highlight propaganda and the manipulation of language? Weird. Are you also one of those who assume Althouse is “surprised” when she points out stupid shit people write?
“Much as I deplore violence and worry about terrible people organizing quickly...”
Don’t worry. We won’t organize quickly.
"Oh, no, that's what my ex-friends say about me!"
Exactly. Vile and violence are in the eyes of the prog beholder.
Right = vile, BLM riots = peaceful.
Nina Jankowicz, a social media researcher at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., ..
the Woodrow Wilson? The racist Woodrow Wilson? The Woodrow Wilson whose alma matter is removing his name from its buildings?
Sounds like the hypocrite Ms. Jankowicz is on the wrong side of history!
I try to distract Facebook, recognizing that their resources and patience exceed mine exponentially. I ask that my language setting be UK English. I visit and like random things such as haberdashery shops in Copenhagen. Also opossums. I methodically hit the "show me fewer" button with any manifestation of Minion or Coffee memes. They are tough buggers to eradicate.
It's a long, slogging, trench warfare campaign and I'm sure FB is gaining on me. But at least I'm learning a few interesting things on that Microfishing in Taiwan group I frequent!
MayBee said...
Recommendations could take a user from an alternative-health Group to an anti-Covid-lockdown Group to a militia Group in a few clicks.... If Facebook didn’t rethink its approach, she warned, Groups could undermine democracy
This line actually made me LOL.
It makes me concerned. This idea on the left that "democracy" is so fragile that only carefully curated information can be allowed lest the people get the "wrong" ideas and vote the "wrong" way is positively Soviet. It's like they feel they have to undermine actual democracy to protect their desired *outcome* (electing Democrats, which is the real word they mean when talking about "democracy" like this).
We, your vile commentariat, are the refiner’s fire that burned away your false friends. This is a fantastic gift! And on behalf of all of us, let me say “you are welcome!” And thank you for your amazing effort in maintaining this blog! A lesser person would have folded years ago. Perhaps I will organize an “Althouse Appreciation Picnic” in Madison come summer. You don’t even have to attend! But everyone will be invited. We will see who dares to show.
Delete Facebook.
Repeat: Delete Facebook.
Improve your life.
Do not be Zuckerberg's bitch.
It's optional.
You don't have to have to be on Facebook.
You don't have to have anything to do with Facebook.
Delete Facebook.
Do not look back.
End it.
It's easy.
You can do it.
Nothing bad will happen.
You will be happier.
"solve the problem of violent radical groups quickly organizing on line and causing chaos in my world?"
Are we talking BLM, Antifa or Al Quaeda?
Oh. White supremacists. Yeah, that's a tough one.
Lewis Wetzel,
"Undermine democracy" is a phrase that means "prevent the left from getting its way."
"Groups could undermine democracy".
First good thing I've ever heard about Facebook.
The only reason facebook has power is because people insist on using it. Stop using it, and facebook has zero power and its ability to censor and manipulate is irrelevant.
I recently deactivated my Facebook account. I will probably go back to it at some point, because I do enjoy being able to connect with people about some of my hobbies through groups, and I do like being able to keep up with old friends. I write and play music in a band, and I will probably reactivate my account when it comes time to network and promote some of those activities. But after the election and January 6th, it just became so toxic. I was constantly disappointed and saddened by how ugly some of my friends and family had become, and it was frustrating to watch people spout so much nonsense while sticking to my self-imposed rule about not engaging with those kinds of posts. It had become kind of masochistic. So I just turned it off.
You can deactivate your Facebook account without deleting it, so if you decide to go back all your stuff will still be there. And you can continue to use Messenger without having an active Facebook account, so people can still message me and I can still participate in group chats.
I thought I would miss it, but I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. If you have been considering leaving Facebook, it is possible to do so in a low-risk way with the deactivation feature.
Recommendations could take a user from an alternative-health Group to an anti-Covid-lockdown Group to a militia Group in a few clicks.
In other news, a technology called "hyperlinks" enables people to create a world-wide web of interconnected information sources, often organized by subject matter. People can browse these information sources using specialized software on their "personal computers."
Also, Instagram allows me to continue to see my friends' vacation photos and dog pictures, without having to hear their insipid opinions.
"How would me personally getting off Facebook solve the problem of violent radical groups quickly organizing on line and causing chaos in my world?"
There is no chaos in your world. You're a retired liberal white woman in Madison, Wisconsin. Give me a break.
"Nina Jankowicz, a social media researcher at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C."
Alanis Morisette! Call your office!
Kirk Parker said, "'Undermine democracy' is a phrase that means 'prevent the left from getting its way.'"
All too true. I recall a post here from about a decade ago during the Wisconsin upheavals over Scott Walker, Act 10, a state Supreme Court election. Working from memory here, I think there was a referendum to repeal Act 10. The referendum failed. Althouse quoted some protestor who said, "Democracy died tonight." Oh, the irony.
And MayBee is so right about the essentially of lock-downs to "our democracy."
As long as they're losing I find it amusing. Unfortunately, they don't always lose.
"Oh, no, that's what my ex-friends say about me!"
They were never really your friends.
"How would me personally getting off Facebook solve the problem of violent radical groups quickly organizing on line and causing chaos in my world?"
I'd suggest consulting OED for the term boycott. There's an army of people writing blog posts, articles, tweets of critique and guess what? It isn't helping...
...in fact it seems to empower them...well that may be their perception of cause/effect of stealing an election and getting away with it, but no matter. The old tactics aren't working. Australia, that ISP in Idaho and that African nation (sorry, I don't recall your name African nation) had the right idea when they tried to ban. It sure got their attention anyways...
DO more of that...
Losin' friends, losin' friends
You got nothin' to lose
You don't lose when you lose fake friends
I would have been a very true friend to Joan Jett, but I never got the chance.
"Bob said....
I recall a post here from about a decade ago during the Wisconsin upheavals over Scott Walker, Act 10, a state Supreme Court election. Working from memory here, I think there was a referendum to repeal Act 10. The referendum failed. Althouse quoted some protestor who said, "Democracy died tonight." Oh, the irony."
No referendum. They tried to recall Walker and most (or every) Republican Senator that was eligible for recall. I think you're thinking of the reaction to Walker winning (bigly), but I don't think it was a professor. Just some local Madison asshole on CNN or MSNBC. He was crying like a little bitch.
Thanks for reminding me to delete my Facebook account. Done.
FB's 'news' feed was nothing but links to leftwing bullshit. It was a relief when they gave it up.
And I don't care what they do now.
Woodrow Wilson, eh? The same guy who threw Debs in prison for speaking an opinion, who re-segregated the federal government and screened the Birth of a Nation at the White House? That president?
Yeah whatever.
Althouse has been inciting, poking, steering people to violence? And she's not alone. That explains this multi-decadal progression. Throw another baby on the barbie, cannibalize her profitable parts, and sequester her carbon remains. It's over. Forward! And don't spare the People and our Posterity.
Social platforms, steering engines, and the Electoral Press, foreign and domestic, are colluding with the sociopolitical complex to form an umbrella corporation. The tell-tale hearts beat ever louder.
"If Facebook didn’t rethink its approach, she warned, Groups could undermine democracy"
by enabling the trash peons of society to communicate with each others, without their betters (that would be her) deciding what they are and aren't allowed to say.
FOAD, you worthless pile of trash
"Oh, no, that's what my ex-friends say about me!"
Everyone should have a few Ex-Friends of the ideological sort -- proves you actually take some principles seriously. And I liked the book. You're in good company. Brava.
The trend is going to be towards Facebook allowing permissible opinions by recognized groups. They have to find a way to censor opinions without appearing to, as well as a way to sweeten the pot, though, so customers don't just go away.
You might have heard of the recent NYU study that social media isn't biased to the left. What they mean is that Trump and Fox News have larger followings than anyone on the other side of the political divide, so social media gives them a bigger megaphone. They are taking "social media" to mean the net effect of the websites. But that effect is because of the way the country is and the way Trump is and the way the establishment media are. What conservatives mean by "social media" having a "bias" is that the people who control the companies are more likely to censure right-wing than left-wing opinions.
Shoshana Zuboff from the other day was on Morning Joe. Her main focus was on the social media companies getting all of our data. She thinks they in some way promote division to get more data and she wants laws and institutions to control their data harvesting. So her chief goal and explicit message isn't more censorship. But I got the feeling that was a big part of the package that she wants to impose. There was something a little Orwellian in her talk about democracy. It seemed like authorities imposing limits and constraints to get "democracy" to work was a big part of her world view.
Far be it from me to praise anything, but I came here because this site is less inflammatory than some of the others, where the point seems to be to pick out some outrageous comment by someone one has never heard of before and never will hear of again and use it as excuse to carpet bomb the person who said it with personal abuse. I can't say much for the major legacy media, but if what they say is inflammatory and offensive, it does seem a worthier target than what some random idiot or stupid celebrity somewhere tweets out in two minutes, and the comments here sometimes go beyond just insulting people.
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