Agreed completely. Crazy to see this endless iteration on ad optimization and maximizing screen time has made disinformation, polarization, and conspiracy so common. Really destroying society from the bottom up IMO
> Crazy to see this endless iteration on ad optimization and maximizing screen time has made disinformation, polarization, and conspiracy so common. Really destroying society from the bottom up IMO
I'd argue the technology that did most of the heavy-lifting for disinformation, polarization, and conspiracy was AM radio, followed by cable TV. Smartphones, the web and social media were not the cause, but a natural progression of, and an amplifier of a pre-existing trend.
There are no technological solutions to the human condition, but technology amplifies aspects of it.
We regulate gambling and tobacco for the same reason we should regulate this. Google and Facebook ads have been scientifically tuned to hijack your brain chemistry for money. This isn't blame, or whining, it's simply acknowledging that these companies weaponized visual stimulus and data collection to sell ads on the internet. No amount of personal responsibility is going to solve a human society level problem.
sangnoir|4 years ago
I'd argue the technology that did most of the heavy-lifting for disinformation, polarization, and conspiracy was AM radio, followed by cable TV. Smartphones, the web and social media were not the cause, but a natural progression of, and an amplifier of a pre-existing trend.
There are no technological solutions to the human condition, but technology amplifies aspects of it.
germandiago|4 years ago
I have available weapons and drugs. zmI do not use either. I am convinced it is a bad decision except in probably very extreme conditions.
We cannot be blaming others just for doing ads. No demand, no offer. Got it? Easy as that.
We all like a world we do not have, we always find problems. But that is not a reason to say what is bad or good. The market will decide :D
I do not get stressed at all with all these Betting houses (now fashionable in Spain) or drugs or anything: just need to be responsible.
arrosenberg|4 years ago
We regulate gambling and tobacco for the same reason we should regulate this. Google and Facebook ads have been scientifically tuned to hijack your brain chemistry for money. This isn't blame, or whining, it's simply acknowledging that these companies weaponized visual stimulus and data collection to sell ads on the internet. No amount of personal responsibility is going to solve a human society level problem.