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Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

(techcrunch.com)
707 points patd | 3 comments | 27 May 20 12:21 UTC | HN request time: 0.415s | source
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jdhn ◴[27 May 20 13:37 UTC] No.23322964[source]▶
Putting aside concerns about overreach government powers, would ending social media as we know it really be a bad thing?
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neuland ◴[27 May 20 13:53 UTC] No.23323230[source]▶
Although it's impossible to put the genie back in the bottle, social media has had a net negative effect on a LOT of people. There's people that have had a big positive effect to. So, it's not obvious where it ends up on net if that even matters.

But, yeah. There's a lot of people that would be better off not on social media. But it's so addictive that they can't help themselves.

I, for one, have stopped using social media (unless you consider HN social). And I've had a lot less friends because of it. But it's been a huge improvement in my mood and outlook on life.

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1. hunter2_ ◴[27 May 20 14:08 UTC] No.23323482[source]▶
> unless you consider HN social

Why wouldn't we? Pseudonyms? Reddit is considered social, I think, and that tends to be even more difficult to map to IRL identity.

Edit: just barely not inb4!

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2. neuland ◴[27 May 20 14:16 UTC] No.23323621[source]▶
Yeah, that's why I only somewhat included it. It's tougher to follow specific people. But it is possible if you keep a list yourself of interesting accounts and check in later on what they've posted.

But the dynamic is definitely different and seems a lot more anonymous unless you are a really high profile account like antirez, patio11, drewdevault, or a CEO of some well known company or startup.

3. catalogia ◴[27 May 20 14:39 UTC] No.23324014[source]▶
Perhaps it would be easier to enumerate the things that aren't social networks. Does the postal system constitute a social network, at least in the literal sense of those words? Maybe! It's a network that facilitates social interactions after all.