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Slopaganda
a year ago
- The internet is criticized for being ruined by proprietary messengers, brand engagement, social media uploads, and upvoting on platforms like Reddit.
- Apple's restrictions, Netflix and Spotify's rental models, and blockchain meme sales are highlighted as contributors to the internet's decline.
- The author advises against long comments and promotes publishing essays on personal websites to reclaim intellectual ownership.
- Criticism is directed towards big tech companies, with a call to stop defending them for free.
- The internet's resilience is acknowledged, with a hopeful note on its potential recovery if users change their behaviors.
If nothing is curated, how do we find things
a year ago
- Bjork is promoting her new concert film 'Cornucopia', with daily photoshoots and interviews.
- Social media scatters information, making it hard to track updates without relying on algorithms.
- The author reminisces about pre-social media curation via radio, TV shows, and magazines.
- Algorithms limit exposure to new content, keeping users in a 'bubble' of similar recommendations.
- Criticism and professional curation are declining, leaving individuals to sift through vast content.
- The author suggests manual note-taking as a partial solution to manage cultural consumption.
- The piece reflects on societal exhaustion from the overwhelming volume of content available.
How scrolling becomes a religious act
a year ago
- Silicon Valley's reverence for AI mirrors religious worship, with figures like Ray Kurzweil and Marc Andreessen promoting AI as a deity.
- Religion and AI both serve to simplify complex realities, with AI's complexity leading to its personification as an all-knowing entity.
- People often treat 'the algorithm' with a micro-religious attitude, attributing its actions to mysterious, divine-like forces.
- Social media engagement mimics religious rituals, with scrolling likened to prayer and collective participation creating a sense of belonging.
- Collective effervescence in social media fosters sacred symbols, similar to religious communities, reinforcing group identity and participation.
- While these rituals are not inherently harmful, awareness is crucial to prevent manipulation and loss of individuality.
UK study: Almost half of young people would prefer a world without internet
a year ago
- Almost half of young people prefer a world without the internet.
- 70% of 16-21-year-olds feel worse after using social media.
- 50% support a 'digital curfew' restricting app access after 10pm.
- 46% would rather grow up without the internet.
- 25% spend 4+ hours daily on social media.
- 42% lie to parents about online activities.
- 42% have lied about their age online.
- 40% use decoy or 'burner' accounts.
- 27% pretend to be someone else online.
- Government considers mandatory cut-off times for apps like TikTok and Instagram.
- Digital curfews alone cannot protect children from online harms.
- 27% of respondents shared their location with strangers online.
- 75% spent more time online due to the pandemic.
- 68% believe online time harms their mental health.
- Young people demand action from tech companies for better protection.
- Algorithms can expose youth to harmful content unintentionally.
- New laws are urgently needed to prioritize child safety over big tech profits.
Photos in a Similar Style Aren't Copyright-Infringing–Woodland vs. Lil Nas X
a year ago
- Rodney Woodland, a freelance artist and model, posted semi-naked photos of himself on Instagram, which received minimal engagement (8-75 likes per post).
- Lil Nas X also posted semi-naked photos on Instagram, which garnered hundreds of thousands to millions of likes.
- Woodland sued Lil Nas X, claiming copyright infringement over 12 of his photos, alleging that Lil Nas X's posts were similar.
- The court ruled that Woodland failed to prove Lil Nas X had access to his photos, as mere posting on Instagram does not ensure access.
- The court emphasized that social media algorithms could increase visibility but require specific evidence of interaction or promotion to establish access.
- The court also found that Lil Nas X's photos were not substantially similar to Woodland's, as differences in poses, lighting, backgrounds, and other elements were significant.
- The ruling highlights the challenges of proving copyright infringement in cases involving similar styles or genres, especially on social media platforms.
- The case has implications for future copyright disputes, particularly regarding the role of algorithmic promotion in establishing access.
- The court's discussion also touches on the broader implications for social media platforms and their algorithmic functions in content distribution.
Social media platforms: what's wrong, and what's next
a year ago
- The author believes current social media platforms are flawed due to misaligned incentives.
- Platforms prioritize metrics like DAUs, engagement, UGC, reach, and monetization over genuine social interaction.
- This leads to issues like fake accounts, clickbait, bot-generated content, data privacy violations, and ad overload.
- The author argues for a new social media platform that focuses on productive social features.
- A multi-part series is planned to explore problems and propose solutions for a better social media model.
Do we need publicly-owned social networks to escape Silicon Valley?
a year ago
- Publicly-owned social networks are proposed as alternatives to Silicon Valley platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Such networks could avoid addictive algorithms and data collection for ads, promoting neutral, moderated discussions.
- Concerns include risks to privacy and freedom, especially if governments misuse these platforms for surveillance or control.
- Decentralized social media networks, based on free and interoperable software, are suggested as safer alternatives.
- Legislative measures like antitrust laws and stricter regulations could limit the power of tech giants.
- Smaller, community-focused social networks might offer more meaningful interactions than massive platforms.
- The EU is urged to support independent and decentralized social media projects to ensure digital independence.
Bluesky user activity has declined by 23% over the past three months
a year ago
- Bluesky's user activity and usage are growing over time.
- The platform tracks daily active users and posts.
- Data is updated every 24 hours.
- 12 million unique users were active in the last 90 days.
- 6.8 million unique users were active in the last 30 days.
- 3.8 million unique users were active in the last 7 days.
- More graphs and statistics will be added soon based on user feedback.
Bluesky has caught on with many news influencers, but X remains popular
a year ago
- The Pew-Knight Initiative supports research on how Americans absorb civic information and engage in communities.
- Bluesky, a social media platform similar to X (formerly Twitter), has seen growth among left-leaning news influencers post-2024 election.
- 43% of sampled news influencers had a Bluesky account by March 2025, up from 21% before Election Day 2024.
- X remains popular among news influencers, with 82% having an account in early 2025, though Bluesky adoption is rising.
- Bluesky adoption is concentrated among left-leaning news influencers (69%), compared to 15% among right-leaning influencers.
- News influencers on X are more active, with 83% posting four or more days per week, compared to 31% on Bluesky.
- The study defines 'news influencers' as individuals with at least 100,000 followers who regularly post about current events and civic issues.
Why am I filled with nostalgia for a pre-internet age I never knew?
a year ago
- A viral video of MGMT performing in 2003 evokes nostalgia for a pre-social media era.
- Nearly half of young people prefer a world without the internet, feeling they've lost something valuable.
- Social media has led to uniformity in behavior, styles, and interactions, reducing authenticity.
- Friendships and social interactions are now commodified, documented for an online audience.
- The 'loss of lack' describes how modern life is streamlined but lacks effort and mystery.
- Nostalgia for pre-internet times is fueled by the internet itself, creating a paradox.
- The internet offers unparalleled access to knowledge and culture but also dominates daily life.
- The solution isn't rejecting the internet but exercising control and using it mindfully.
The coolest Unicode versions of every letter (A–Z)
a year ago
- Unicode enables the use of fancy fonts on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Users can copy and paste fancy symbols to emphasize text or use font changer tools for entire texts.
- Fancy fonts are popular for attracting attention, such as in store sales announcements.
- Popular font styles include Cursive, Gothic, Bold, Bubble, Squared, and Monospace.
- Fancy symbols should be avoided for audiences using screen readers as they lack semantic meaning.
X changes its terms to bar training of AI models using its content
a year ago
- Social network X updated its developer agreement to ban third parties from using its content to train large language models.
- The change was made under the 'Reverse Engineering and other Restrictions' section, specifically prohibiting the use of X API or content for training AI models.
- This update follows X's acquisition by Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, in March, likely to prevent competitors from freely accessing X's data.
- Previously, X had modified its privacy policy to use public data for AI training and allowed third-party model training in October 2023.
- Other platforms like Reddit and The Browser Company have also implemented measures to block AI crawlers from accessing their data.
The Meta AI app is a privacy disaster
a year ago
- Meta AI app users are unknowingly sharing private conversations publicly.
- Shared content includes sensitive information like home addresses and legal details.
- Meta does not clearly indicate privacy settings when users post.
- Public posts range from bizarre questions to serious legal inquiries.
- The app has been downloaded 6.5 million times since its launch.
- Meta's lack of foresight has led to a privacy nightmare.
Bluesky Backlash Misses the Point
a year ago
- Bluesky's network is more than just its own app, encompassing a wider AT Proto ecosystem.
- Recent criticisms label Bluesky as a left-leaning echo chamber, with users like Mark Cuban noting increased hostility.
- Bluesky's growth surged post-November U.S. elections, reaching over 36.5 million users, but risks being pigeonholed as a liberal alternative to X.
- The platform allows users to customize their experience with different apps, feeds, and content, moving beyond political discourse.
- Third-party apps built on AT Protocol offer diverse functionalities, from niche communities to content aggregation across multiple platforms.
- Bluesky's potential lies in promoting its broader ecosystem to avoid being narrowly defined as just another social media alternative.
Discord Considered Harmful
a year ago
- Discord's harmful effects are often overlooked despite its popularity among tech enthusiasts.
- Comparison between a real-life book club (Bob) and a Discord-based book club (Alice) highlights Discord's shortcomings in fulfilling social needs.
- Bob's book club meets twice a month for an hour, providing meaningful socialization and a sense of belonging.
- Alice's Discord server is always active but offers fragmented, often meaningless interactions, failing to meet her social needs.
- Discord's constant availability leads to frequent interruptions, disrupting focus and productivity.
- Alice feels pressured to keep up with rapidly changing conversations, leading to excessive spending and time consumption.
- The author suggests quitting Discord or drastically reducing its use to mitigate its negative effects.
- Real-life interactions, like joining a physical book club, are recommended over digital alternatives for meaningful socialization.
- The software community's reliance on Discord for projects is questioned, with successful projects often thriving without it.
Dutch cabinet to advise parents to ban social media before age of 15
a year ago
- Government advises parents to ban social media for children under 15.
- Deputy health minister Vincent Karremans to issue guidance on smartphone use, recommending no phones before age 11-12.
- Teenagers report feeling unprotected online; 88% use social media, but 69% support banning it due to addiction and mental health concerns.
- Majority of MPs favor banning smartphones in secondary schools, following a successful primary school ban improving concentration and behavior.
- Primary schools report positive behavioral changes since implementing smartphone bans.
Mastodon updates its terms to prohibit AI model training
a year ago
- Social networks like Mastodon are updating terms of service to prohibit AI model training and data scraping.
- Mastodon's new terms explicitly ban scraping user data for LLM training, effective July 1.
- The updated terms include legal language against automated systems like scrapers and data mining tools.
- These rules currently apply only to Mastodon.social, leaving other fediverse servers potentially vulnerable to scraping.
- Other platforms, including OpenAI and Reddit, have also introduced similar anti-scraping clauses.
- Mastodon is raising its global age limit for users from 13 to 16 years.
What I learned recording hours of teens on their phones
10 months ago
- Lauren Greenfield's documentary series 'Social Studies' explores the lives of teenagers and young adults, the first generation of social media natives, revealing their online and offline experiences.
- The series captures various aspects of youth culture, including cyberbullying, whitewashing, beauty standards, and suicidal ideation, presenting adolescence as a chaotic and unregulated space.
- Greenfield conducted over 200 mini-interviews in LA high schools, narrowing down to 25 participants who shared their lives through screen recordings and in-person filming.
- The documentary highlights the addictive nature of social media, comparing it to opium addiction, and critiques tech companies for exploiting young users for profit.
- Parents in the series are often portrayed as unaware or ineffective, reflecting broader societal challenges in regulating youth engagement with social media.
- Greenfield's personal experiences, including her struggles with her son's screen time, influenced her perspective and approach to the documentary.
- The series also touches on humor and resilience among teenagers, balancing devastating revelations with moments of levity.
- Greenfield advocates for collective action to address the dangers of social media, suggesting the need for independent, non-profit communication platforms.
- The documentary concludes with participants reflecting on their experiences, acknowledging the difficulty of disengaging from social media due to fears of social oblivion.
- Greenfield's work has sparked discussions about the need for regulatory changes and greater awareness of the impact of social media on youth mental health.
TikTok is being flooded with racist AI videos generated by Google's Veo 3
10 months ago
- Google's Veo 3 video generator, released in May, significantly improves AI video quality but can be misused for harmful content.
- TikTok users have reported an increase in racist and antisemitic AI-generated videos using Veo 3, targeting Black people, immigrants, and Jewish individuals.
- The videos, marked with a 'Veo' watermark, often depict offensive stereotypes and have garnered engagement through anger and drama.
- Google emphasizes AI security, but Veo 3 appears more compliant, making it easier to generate harmful content.
- TikTok's policies prohibit hate speech, yet racist Veo 3 videos continue to spread unchecked on the platform.
The Locknet: How China Controls Its Internet and Why It Matters
10 months ago
- Zheng Yubin's video on RedNote highlights cross-cultural connections between Chinese and American users, emphasizing mutual respect and understanding.
- American users joined RedNote in protest against the U.S. government's proposed TikTok ban, leading to a brief period of cultural exchange.
- RedNote faced challenges with censorship, as posts containing political speech were flagged or accounts were closed, reflecting China's strict content control policies.
- The article discusses China's 'Great Firewall' and its dynamic, multi-layered censorship system, which includes network-level, service-level, and regulatory enforcement.
- China's censorship aims not just to block content but to reshape the information landscape, influencing what citizens know and think.
- The system is resource-intensive, costing billions annually, and is designed to be 'good enough' rather than perfect, focusing on minimizing 'dangerous' information.
- Chinese internet users often self-censor, avoiding sensitive topics, while platforms like WeChat enforce vague and ambiguous content rules.
- The censorship system's impact extends globally, affecting international users and companies, as seen with Marvel Rivals incorporating Chinese censorship rules.
- The article underscores the need for a better understanding of China's censorship system, given its growing influence on the global internet.

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#social media

Slopaganda

If nothing is curated, how do we find things

How scrolling becomes a religious act

UK study: Almost half of young people would prefer a world without internet

Photos in a Similar Style Aren't Copyright-Infringing–Woodland vs. Lil Nas X

Social media platforms: what's wrong, and what's next

Do we need publicly-owned social networks to escape Silicon Valley?

Bluesky user activity has declined by 23% over the past three months

Bluesky has caught on with many news influencers, but X remains popular

Why am I filled with nostalgia for a pre-internet age I never knew?

The coolest Unicode versions of every letter (A–Z)

X changes its terms to bar training of AI models using its content

The Meta AI app is a privacy disaster

Bluesky Backlash Misses the Point

Discord Considered Harmful

Dutch cabinet to advise parents to ban social media before age of 15

Mastodon updates its terms to prohibit AI model training

What I learned recording hours of teens on their phones

TikTok is being flooded with racist AI videos generated by Google's Veo 3

The Locknet: How China Controls Its Internet and Why It Matters