Why I Don't Use Social Media

This is a place to capture some resources which explain why I don't use the socials:

The risks of collecting massive hoards of personal data on whole populations are too great. History tells us how humans misbehave:

'The surveillance economy is way too dangerous. Even if you trust everyone spying on you right now, the data they're collecting will eventually be stolen or bought by people who scare you. We have no ability to secure large data collections over time.' Maciej Ceglowski

https://idlewords.com/talks/sase_panel.htm

The platform owners cannot be trusted with anyone's data or to do the right thing:

https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_it_s_not_about_privacy_it_s_about_power

https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/cambridge-analytica-files

The algorithms are tuned to maximise profit - this is achieved by encouraging screen addiction and stoking division and anger - this is not good for us as individuals (or communities or societies):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfr7sU5W2E

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/11/users-advertisers-we-are-all-trapped-in-the-enshittification-of-the-internet

It turns out I'm a limbic anti-capitalist

https://reactionaryfeminist.substack.com/p/where-are-the-limbic-anti-capitalists

The algorithms amplify hate, misinformation and conspiracy theories. A non-exhaustive list:

• Anti-vaxxers

• Covid conspiracy

• Trump on Jan 6th

• Rohhingya genocide in Myanmar

https://time.com/5872868/big-tech-regulated-here-is-4-ways/

Social media platforms are gamed and manipulated by bad actors:

The 'Internet Research Agency' is a Russian troll farm operated by Prigozhin. He's the man who owns and operates the Wagner Group, the private 'army' currently committing attrocities in Ukraine:

https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-troll-factory-hacking/31076160.html