Social media is killing Amiga forums

[malko]

@nexus & family : allow me to express my dee condolences.

[Daedalus]

Originally Posted by malko

Already in 2013 (5 years ago) : I am sure you have heard about the shadow profile .

Yeah, I remember that too, but they can't sell advertising to or tailor information for that person because they don't know them if and when they visit.

As said in post #66, no offence here as it is not an insult (from my perspective). A "rough" way instead of a "politically correct" way for sure, but not an insult.

And who on Earth do you think you are, that you decide what's insulting to me? Making assumptions that someone is stupid or lying just because they don't agree with you is pretty telling. I fully understand everything that's going on here, I'm just not outraged like you seem to be since I already fully understood it all when I signed up, and again each time they updated their terms of service.

At the end we are only sharing opinions here.

Indeed. So no need for personal insults - it only gives the appearance of intolerance for opinions other than your own.

[Daedalus]

Originally Posted by daxb

Seems that Daedalus eab account was taken over by someone. If not, you should inform yourself about it.

Or maybe my entire consciousness has been taken over by Russian hackers

[malko]

Originally Posted by Daedalus

Yeah, I remember that too, but they can't sell advertising to or tailor information for that person because they don't know them if and when they visit.

Again, you have a speech that tend to "minimize" the stuff. Even if I think that these "media" may have their usefulness, the simple fact that these shadow profiles exist IS a problem.
I don't know for you but I will try to avoid doing something if it's "useless".

[...] who on Earth do you think you are, that you decide what's insulting to me? [...]

You are the only one who will decide what is insulting you. No one else.
So please, "[...] no offence here as it is not an insult [...]".

[...] So I'm happy to pay for all this convenience in information that isn't worth anything to me anyway. [...]

Let's agree to disagree Daedalus. As said, what is "worth anything" for you may be "important" for others.
I don't know what kind of informations you are posting on FB and, most important, I never said nor pretended that you did it the wrong way...

Again, I am against the speech that tend to "minimize" everything.
If things were so "normal" or "acknowledged" there wouldn't be any scandals with these "social networks".

[aZtOcKdOg]

Slightly off topic but it came up in a conversation about the privacy and selling info recently to which I realised and responded with:

If you think they haven’t been selling your private info and direct marketing to you since the days the switchboard operators could overhear and listen on your telephone conversations then we really are ignorant to why we all even have ‘access’ to these modern communication technologies in this ‘free’ world. Yeah the phone was invented so we can talk to our loved ones- sure! lol

Dunno sry / no tin foil hat thing / just hate commercialism and the create a demand so we can supply technique that most are unaware of...

[haps]

Originally Posted by malko

You are the only one who will decide what is insulting you. No one else.
So please, "[...] no offence here as it is not an insult [...]".

Simply preceding a direct insult such as telling someone they are stupid or a liar with the words 'no offence intended' does not negate the fact that your post directed at them was insulting.

If I was to say 'no offence malko' but I think you must be pretty thick if you cannot realize that you did directly insult Daedalus even though you tried not to by saying 'no offence', I would expect this to be construed as an insult irregardless of the 'no offence'.


Ever since these sites like Facebook, My Space, et al. showed up I have warned people to be careful what they share because they are all nothing more than giant information gathering systems.

I have an FB account, but I don't know what info they could gather from it, I have no friends, my name is that of a fictitious Englishman from the middle ages, and the only activity performed on the account is the odd 'like' or 'follow'. The account is a handy information gathering tool for myself and useful when competitions, etc, require facebook.

[saimon69]

Originally Posted by haps

I have an FB account, but I don't know what info they could gather from it, I have no friends, my name is that of a fictitious Englishman from the middle ages, and the only activity performed on the account is the odd 'like' or 'follow'. The account is a handy information gathering tool for myself and useful when competitions, etc, require facebook.

Then expect the ZuckPolice to suspend it and ask for REAL identity proof like id card and similar soon; that is what i remember happened to someone that was using FB with a pseudonym

[haps]

Originally Posted by saimon69

Then expect the ZuckPolice to suspend it and ask for REAL identity proof like id card and similar soon; that is what i remember happened to someone that was using FB with a pseudonym

Hasn't happened in the 10+ years the account has been active so far.

[malko]

@haps : Thank you for your direct and straightforward point of view.
Also thanks to your wording I have learned a new expression : "as thick as two short planks".
As for me, I regret that my sentence was interpreted in this way. Having a direct and straightforward speech does not necessarily means being offensive.

[malko]

Hum ... After Cambridge Analytica, today in a newspaper : FB new controversy (google translate) & FB press release.

[malko]

Seen this yesterday on the local "free" newspaper

deepl.com translation follow : (original French text in the attached picture)

Social networks: beware of depression if you hang around!

STUDY: Time spent on Facebook, Instagram and other Snapchat should not be in any case not to exceed 30 minutes per day.

The correlation between discomfort and abusive dating with Facebook, Instagram and other Snapchat was highlighted in a study by the University of Pennsylvania. "Using fewer social networks than usual leads to a significant decrease in depression and loneliness," researcher Melissa Hunt summarized in Science Daily. To arrive at these conclusions, the American team used a sample of 143 academics in their twenties in two categories: one with unlimited use of social networks and the other at 30 minutes per day. Participants were interviewed, before and after the experiment, on the following topics: social support, fear of missing something (FOMO), loneliness, autonomy, anxiety, depression and self-esteem. Not surprisingly, the adverse effects were found to be significantly more pronounced in people who were more depressed at the beginning of the Study. "Research shows that there are many social comparisons. When you look at the lives of others, especially on Instagram, it's easy to conclude that other people's lives are cooler or better than yours," says Melissa Hunt. However, his study did not determine the optimal daily duration for healthy use of social networks. -LAF


Instagram reacts
In response to repeated cases of user discomfort and addiction, the Facebook image application has added a dashboard to manage the time spent there. Called "Your activity", the space is visible from the profile, "burger" menu with three lines stacked in the upper right corner of the screen. The average time spent per day on the device during the week is displayed. It is possible to set up reminders in case the quota is exceeded, as well as to set the various notifications (19 in total).

[amuleth]

Jaron Lanier interview on how social media ruins your life
[ Show youtube player ]

[malko]

Seen this yesterday on the local "free" newspaper

deepl.com translation follow : (original French text in the attached picture)

Google accused of spying on Android users

EUROPE Consumer organisations yesterday said that the Internet giant was tracking the movements of users.

"The situation is more than alarming. Smartphones are used to spy on all movements, said the European Bureau of Consumer Unions yesterday. Google's thirst for data is well known, but the extent to which it misleads users to follow them and make money is frightening."

The American giant "uses misleading design and information, which leads users to accept to be constantly followed", according to a Norwegian study that denounces "manipulations".

The firm would track its users via the "Position History" and "Web Activities and Applications" parameters. Seven consumer organisations filed complaints yesterday, notably in Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.

"Location data can reveal a lot about a person: their real-time movements, the places they frequent and their interests," the study explains. This data can be used to "draw up very detailed portraits of users." These organisations are calling for an investigation to be opened, for these practices to be stopped and for a "dissuasive" fine to be imposed.

"If you pause the position history, we make it clear that we could still collect and use location data to improve your experience," Google commented yesterday. -AFP

picture's legend: The American company reacted by saying "working constantly to improve its controls".

[malko]

And the day before yesterday

deepl.com translation follow : (original French text in the attached picture)

Social networks are driving people to buy

CONSUMPTION: Seeing an object on Instagram or Facebook can be an incentive to acquire it. Even if it is out of reach of its budget.

Who hasn't wanted to buy a jacket from Instagram or a high-tech device recommended by a friend on Facebook? For 31% of Swiss people, social networks exert pressure that pushes them to consume beyond their means, according to a study by the collection company Intrum Justitia.

This annual report examined consumer spending in Europe, interviewing 24,400 people across the continent.

Incentives related to social networks concern both young people and their parents. But these budget overruns can cause financial difficulties, particularly because of the great ease of online purchases and the new means of payment available.

This leads about 20% of those affected by these delays to seek help from their relatives.

The study also reveals that purchases from foreign sites remain a minority: 40% of Swiss people say they have sourced from abroad.

Finally, the report notes that only 56% of Swiss people say they save money month after month. Holidays are the main reason for these savings, given fears that social security (AHV, 2nd pillar) is not enough to cover their old age. -ATS/REG

picture's legend: Easy payment encourages impulsive behaviour.

[malko]

This last article reminds me a movie from 2009 : The Joneses.
Interesting one. Worth a watch if you can.

Originally Posted by Publicist on IMDB.com

Storyline: "The Joneses", a social commentary on our consumerist society. Perfect couple Steve and Kate Jones, and their gorgeous teen-aged children Jenn and Mick, are the envy of their posh, suburban neighbourhood filled with McMansions and all the trappings of the upper middle class. Kate is the ultimate trend setter - beautiful, sexy, dressed head-to-toe in designer labels. Steve is the admired successful businessman who has it all: a gorgeous wife, big house and an endless supply of high-tech toys. Jenn and Mick rule their new school as they embody all that is hip and trendy - cool clothes, fast cars and the latest gadgets. But as the neighbours try to keep up with the Joneses, none are prepared for the truth about this all- too perfect family.

[Pyromania]

@malko

Great movie recommendation.

[malko]

deepl.com translation : (original text in attachment)

New revelations about Facebook practices

LONDON The British Parliament has accused the famous social network of disclosing users' personal data to certain firms.

In a lawsuit between Facebook and Six4Three in the United States, the British Parliament obtained and disclosed more than 250 pages "in the public interest" including internal Facebook e-mails sent by its boss and others. In a summary of this package of documents from 2012 to 2015, Damian Collins, head of the Commission on Digital, Culture and Media, raises several "key issues".

He claims that Facebook has entered into agreements with some companies to allow them "full access to the data of users' friends", although the American giant announced in 2015 that it was terminating these accesses. Lyft, Airbnb or Netflix were among the privileged ones on this white list.

Facebook also used the Onavo app (VPN service) to find out how users' apps were being used, "apparently without their knowledge", according to Collins. In addition, the social network sought to obtain Android call history without asking users for their consent.

Facebook "has never sold the data, people" and the documents published on Wednesday "are presented in a very misleading way without adding context," said a spokesman. He recalled the changes made by the social network in 2014 and 2015 to prevent the sharing of data from friends of users with app developers. -AFP/MAN

picture's legend: Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg is not done with the scandals.

[haps]

It saddens me that Joe Public still flock to these social media sites like flies to shit and share every intimate detail of their life. The fact that these sites are still so popular even after all the scandals makes me shake my head.

Some times you humans really do baffle me. :P

[Retroplay]

@haps, my thoughts exactly.

I do everything I can to block/remove everything FB related on my systems.
My hosts file has a plethora of FB ips on the blocklist as well as scripts to get rid of all FB related crapola, "like" buttons, share etc.

If you ask me, it's the cancer of the internet.

[phx]

Originally Posted by Retroplay

I do everything I can to block/remove everything FB related on my systems.

Same here. The following command lists all current FB networks for adding them to your router's firewall:

# whois -h whois.radb.net -- '-i origin AS32934' | grep ^route:

I did a small shell script which generates the ipfilter-rules for my NetBSD-based router. I added that to my router, my company's router and most routers of my family. I'm also blocking Microsoft-spying, Steam, etc.

But I fear in the future we have to do it the other way around. First block everything. Then enable some networks you want to use.

#!/bin/sh
whois -h whois.radb.net -- '-i origin AS32934' | grep ^route: | cut "-b13-" | uniq > /var/tmp/netlist.txt
while read net; do
        echo "block out log body quick on pppoe0 from any to $net"
done < /var/tmp/netlist.txt
rm -f /var/tmp/netlist.txt