Harrop: Taking leave of Facebooks fake news, echo chambers

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Dear Facebook friends:

If you don’t see me gushing over the pix of your Thanksgiving pies, take no offense. It’s not that your pie is a bore (though, frankly, it is). And it’s not because I unfriended you. It’s because Facebook has become a platform for the sort of fake news stories that helped elect Donald Trump. In doing so, Facebook undermines our civic culture — its creepy smile floating overhead.

I’m so out of there. I’ve wanted to quit for a long time, having wearied of friends’ pictorials of their idyllic family and personal lives. I know for a fact that some of the most glowing portrayals come (mostly) from women who couldn’t make it to noon without a fistful of meds. I still love them, and if they wish to connect, they have my number.

Though hyper-partisan fake news stories have come from both the left and the right, Facebook entrepreneurs know that the money is in plowing the Trumpian fields. And for all the patriotic memes, foreigners are behind much of the manipulation of the American public.

Kids in a town in Macedonia (that’s near Greece) created more than 100 pro-Trump websites, spreading phony reports such as FBI plans to indict Hillary Clinton. The Make America Great page outsources the writing of fraudulent news to a couple in the Philippines.

http://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/harrop-taking-leave-of-facebooks-fake-news-echo-chambers/

I tend to concur with this editorial. Since the election I doubt I've spent more than ten minutes a day on Facebook

[northoftheborder]

1. Proud to say I've NEVER been a Facebook user

Until recent events, I, and family & friends considered myself a Luddite. I didn't care - considered Facebooking a waste of time. Now, with Fake News haven taken the Luster from that realm, I seem more wise!!!!

[Skittles]

4. THANK YOU

it is difficult dealing with a world that was sucked into the Facebook Borg

[malaise]

2. Never joined

Angered my family and friends but took a pass from day one

[Skittles]

5. hilarious, isn't it?

the way they act like it's the ONLY way they can "communicate with friends and family" - sad, really

[malaise]

7. They had to phone me

or send email - I didn't and still don't give a shit - it's beyond sad.

[Skittles]

8. heaven forbid they have to put any real effort into it

[TrekLuver]

3. Facebook is not all bad there is some good that can come out of it.

It has allowed a network of people to help save NYC dogs and cats from certain death (and all across the country). It has allowed me to connect with local rallies and causes that are important to me (such as the million women march!!!). It has also now turned into a hotbed of alt right lies being mainstreamed. So good can come out of it..... but the bad is overshadowing that now. Even some of my animal activist "friends" were big Trashpot supporters which defies logic since his sons kill big game. They suddenly are able to explain that away with "that's a sport" when a year ago they would of been railing and raving.

[Raster]

6. I have had an account for just over nine years...

...though I login/post @ FB very little. I participated every day for the last three months for one reason and one reason only: defeating Trump.

I find FB offensive. I find Zuck tedious and grossly disingenuous. I find the typical FB user dumb as a fucking stump.