Is Social Media Forcing Us to Conform?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of social media, particularly Facebook, on personal behavior and societal norms. Participants explore themes of conformity, privacy concerns, and the influence of social media on relationships and self-presentation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express discomfort with the idea of conforming to social media norms, noting that thoughtful posts often go unnoticed while trivial content gains traction.
  • Concerns are raised about privacy and data collection by corporations, with references to government collusion and the extensive data gathering practices of companies.
  • Participants discuss the implications of social media on personal relationships, including the potential for misunderstandings and conflicts arising from interactions on platforms like Facebook.
  • There is a suggestion that social media encourages superficial interactions, with some advocating for a more cautious approach to posting personal content.
  • Some participants note the introduction of new reaction emojis on Facebook, discussing their potential impact on communication.
  • There is speculation about the political implications of social media features, such as the absence of a "dislike" button, and how it might change under different political leadership.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the role of social media in shaping behavior and relationships, with no clear consensus on whether its influence is positive or negative. Disagreements exist regarding the appropriateness of certain behaviors on social media and the implications for personal relationships.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in the discussion include varying definitions of privacy, the subjective nature of social media interactions, and the lack of empirical evidence supporting claims about data collection practices.

Hornbein
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It was when I first used Facebook that I realized how out of step I was with normal human psychology. People like this?

When I found out Facebook was colluding with the government in spying I deleted my account. Facebook made this so difficult to do that I had to read a New York Times article to figure it out.

Now a potential girlfriend loves Facebook so much she has insisted I get involved. OK. No one ever reads my thoughtful posts. That sort of thing is unwanted. But what the heck. I'll just act like everyone else and peg the Drivelmeter.
 
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Hornbein said:
When I found out Facebook was colluding with the government in spying I deleted my account.
You know that companies often make the government look like amateurs when it comes to spying on you online. Cookies, data warehouses, and apps, oh my. :olduhh:
 
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Borg said:
You know that companies often make the government look like amateurs when it comes to spying on you online. Cookies, data warehouses, and apps, oh my. :olduhh:

Did you know that until recently the NSA was paying those companies $20 million a year to get that data? They were also paying the UK's MI6 $40 million for the stuff that they couldn't legally collect themselves. Their aim, in which they were largely successful, was to get everything.
 
Where did you get such information ?
 
Hornbein said:
Did you know that until recently the NSA was paying those companies $20 million a year to get that data? They were also paying the UK's MI6 $40 million for the stuff that they couldn't legally collect themselves. Their aim, in which they were largely successful, was to get everything.
That's my point. Corporations are very good at collecting your data.
 
facebook.JPG
 
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phinds said:
View attachment 97480
That sums it up rather accurately, I think. A common side-effect of Facebook I've noticed is this: "I don't have time to do any exercise/reading." Yet the same person spends hours each day going through all the inane drivel on their page.
 
I certainly agree! Anything I post on facebook I consider "public property" and "publicly viewable".. if it's not something I'd want printed about myself in a newspaper, I don't put it there.
I *GROAN* at the crap people like as well.. Seriously? 4 billion people like Preparation H, or some corporate mogul's media outlet?.. or <nsert the name of a career politician>
 
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  • #10
Hornbein said:
Now a potential girlfriend loves Facebook so much she has insisted I get involved. OK. No one ever reads my thoughtful posts. That sort of thing is unwanted. But what the heck. I'll just act like everyone else and peg the Drivelmeter.
Your mission as a spy is to blend with the community. Think you can handle it? We'll send reinforcements if anything happens in this funny looking van: :hurt:

:oldtongue:
 
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  • #11
Hornbein said:
It was when I first used Facebook that I realized how out of step I was with normal human psychology. People like this?

When I found out Facebook was colluding with the government in spying I deleted my account. Facebook made this so difficult to do that I had to read a New York Times article to figure it out.

Now a potential girlfriend loves Facebook so much she has insisted I get involved. OK. No one ever reads my thoughtful posts. That sort of thing is unwanted. But what the heck. I'll just act like everyone else and peg the Drivelmeter.
I've learned very quickly not to put anything meaningful on FB. Only post funny posts or pics of what you eat, crazy selfies, drunk photos or bathroom photos. If you don't want to share these (which would be very wise) don't post anything and like everything your girlfriend posts. Be sure not to like too many posts by other girls, you might be accused of flirting.
 
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  • #12
Or... or... He can be accused of having a good sense of humor. Like his potential girlfriend will think he laughs at other girls and like their posts because he finds them funny.

I will like some post of yours... and I dare any citizen of the world to accuse me of flirting with you just because I liked your post. :-p
 
  • #13
Psinter said:
Or... or... He can be accused of having a good sense of humor. Like his potential girlfriend will think he laughs at other girls and like their posts because he finds them funny.

I will like some post of yours... and I dare any citizen of the world to accuse me of flirting with you just because I liked your post. :-p
Haha, that would be logical. If he likes posts made by all his female friends equally, that should be alright.
However, if his girlfriend discovers that he likes too many posts (or even worse, photos!) from one girl, that might cause a problem :-)
I am not like that but many girls are.
 
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  • #14
Sophia said:
Haha, that would be logical. If he likes posts made by all his female friends equally, that should be alright.
However, if his girlfriend discovers that he likes too many posts (or even worse, photos!) from one girl, that might cause a problem :-)
I am not like that but many girls are.
Another like.

I've seen relationships broken because of computers. Even before Facebook. One woman divorced from her husband because she says she found pictures of other girls in his computer. :oldeek: Which reminds me of this picture relating browsing history: (She doesn't look too happy :oldlaugh:)

delete-your-browser-history_o_1089724.jpg
 
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  • #15
Psinter said:
Another like.

I've seen relationships broken because of computers. Even before Facebook. One woman divorced from her husband because she says she found pictures of other girls in his computer. :oldeek: Which reminds me of this picture relating browsing history: (She doesn't look too happy :oldlaugh:)

delete-your-browser-history_o_1089724.jpg
Ooooh now that would certainly be a huge problem. I wouldn't mind if it was porn (guess that most men watch it) but if it was someone from real life... That would mean END.
 
  • #16
Sophia said:
Ooooh now that would certainly be a huge problem. I wouldn't mind if it was porn (guess that most men watch it) but if it was someone from real life... That would mean END.
I think it was real girls. I don't know because I never asked. She just sat there telling me about how bad her ex was (According to her, I dare pass no judgement). And I just listened because I had nothing better to do at that moment (more like I was trapped and couldn't go home yet).
 
  • #17
Sophia said:
I've learned very quickly not to put anything meaningful on FB. Only post funny posts or pics of what you eat, crazy selfies, drunk photos or bathroom photos. If you don't want to share these (which would be very wise) don't post anything and like everything your girlfriend posts. Be sure not to like too many posts by other girls, you might be accused of flirting.

That's pretty much what I concluded. Good advice.
 
  • #18
Facebook: Pool of memes (mental viruses).
 
  • #19
Just noticed there are new icons next to Like on FB. There are new emojis wow, sad, angry and love. Guess it is more appropriate in some situations than Like.
 
  • #20
And still no plain ol' DISLIKE..
 
  • #21
Rx7man said:
And still no plain ol' DISLIKE..
Well, just wait until Donald Trump is president; he will force Facebook to add a "dislike" because he just has to have it.
 
  • #22
Rx7man said:
And still no plain ol' DISLIKE..
exactly. Wonder why they didn't include it.
 
  • #23
phinds said:
Well, just wait until Donald Trump is president; he will force Facebook to add a "dislike" because he just has to have it.
So there might be an upside to him after all
 
  • #24
Sophia said:
exactly. Wonder why they didn't include it.

Dislike is disliked.
 
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  • #25
Since when is having a FB account a make or break with a girl?
 
  • #26
Hornbein said:
Dislike is disliked.
I guess it's not politically correct to dislike anything anymore... everybody must 'like' everything... I consider it a form of censorship.
 
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