WSJ: Facebook knows Instagram is harmful to many young users—especially teen girls

[Anonymous]

While I think instagram is extremely evil, I don't trust the whistleblower's motives. She seems like a partisan activist to me. And her being astroturfed seems extremely inorganic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The difference between the media we consumed and social media is stark. Not only are teens consuming it, they are it. They feel the need to curate their life for social media. There is no break. You are judged for things you do currently AND for your past deeds. I think that’s the hardest part. There is no room for F ups like we had. That’s a lot of pressure.

- and the research backs this up.

The down-playing and dismissiveness on this thread is appalling.

Do you think the Wall Street journal is “fake news?” Do you think Congress launches investigations over nothing?


Or,

- is the issue that you have willingly let your daughter unlimited use of Instagram, but only now realize that might have been a terrible mistake?

+ they target you via your use. And lure you in with stories -real and fake- that will get your usage up so they get paid. And they don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I think instagram is extremely evil, I don't trust the whistleblower's motives. She seems like a partisan activist to me. And her being astroturfed seems extremely inorganic.

She can be those things and still be telling the truth. It's like the friend you tell your secrets to. Then they betray you by telling the world what you told them. They may have a motive, but what they're saying is still true.

[Anonymous]

I get Langley vibes from the whistleblower. None of this seems organic to me. Who knows.

[Anonymous]

How many of you have forbidden your daughters from Instagram/ Facebook following the whistle blowers revelation ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of you have forbidden your daughters from Instagram/ Facebook following the whistle blowers revelation ?

Mine was never on them in the first place. I’m still having a hard time with this being any kind of “revelation,” though. Like we really needed this woman to tell us that these apps are harmful, especially for kids? And we really thought execs (of any company) cared about anyone’s well-being over profit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good for Frances Haugen. Interesting she doesn't think the company's problems can be solved by breaking it up though -- as an observer who used to use Instagram, it really felt like the app got much, much worse after being acquired by Facebook and especially once Facebook more fully integrated it with the rest of the company. The algorithms that power the "Explore" tab and suggest new accounts to users really seem to push users toward posts and accounts that encourage or will appeal to people suffering from mental illness.

After I had a baby, I remember just being pummeled suggested posts about losing weight, including lots of suggested accounts for extreme dieting. It was interesting because I never once ran a search for weight loss or baby weight or anything. But the app knew I was a new mom and the algorithm decided that was what I wanted.

Meanwhile, I had PPD and I went out of my way to find accounts that tased about PPD or new motherhood. Most of my instagram activity at that time was focused on those issues. And yes, still, my Explore tab was filled with posts about losing weight, looking good post-baby, tons of Instagram influencers posed in matching outfits with their kids, etc. Again, nothing I'd ever expressed any interest in, and some of it almost certainly directly triggering for my PPD. But the algorithm wasn't interested in my actual interests. It was pushing an agenda, presumably based on what it has found tends to drive engagement (i.e. obsessive scrolling, likes, comments, etc.). Meanwhile, checking the app once or twice a day to look at positive mental health posts and engage in conversations with a small group of women about our mental health after having babies was not something Instagram/Facebook was interested in encouraging, even though it was actually a really helpful part of my recovery.

That company is trash.

+1 I am so sorry. 100% agree. The company is trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I think instagram is extremely evil, I don't trust the whistleblower's motives. She seems like a partisan activist to me. And her being astroturfed seems extremely inorganic.

Big tobacco was brought way down, in part by a few whistleblowers.

I really do not care at all what their motives might have been.

FaceBook is evil. Instagram is literally harming (sometimes killing) young girls through anorexia, bulimia, suicide . . .

- they’ve known it for years and covered it up

[Anonymous]

I hate the sexist focus on the harm to girls. It is easy to focus on that because girls are encouraged to express their feelings and they also manifest their sadness inward and on themselves. When boys act outwardly we just say “oh that’s boys”. All our kids need help and advocacy - girls are not damsels that need extra special emotional protection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the sexist focus on the harm to girls. It is easy to focus on that because girls are encouraged to express their feelings and they also manifest their sadness inward and on themselves. When boys act outwardly we just say “oh that’s boys”. All our kids need help and advocacy - girls are not damsels that need extra special emotional protection.

This is the problem with feminists. Most of you are retards. High IQ retards.

A big part of the problem with Instagram is its harm to girls, not because they are weak, but because of their interests and behavior. Just like video gaming is a problem mostly associated with boys. Nothing sexist about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen to this demonic creep from Facebook, pretending to not know what finsta means or the motive for kids to use it -- read to keep the profile hidden and illicit photos from their parents. Disturbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen to this demonic creep from Facebook, pretending to not know what finsta means or the motive for kids to use it -- read to keep the profile hidden and illicit photos from their parents. Disturbing.

The only one in that exchange who didn’t know what a finsta is was Blumenthal. Finsta isn’t an app, it isn’t a top secret. It’s a kid making a second Instagram account with a different name hoping her parents won’t figure it out.

Finstas aren’t the problem. Snapchat is the real problem

[Anonymous]

Finsta is akin to snapchat.That Facebook exec and all the snarky dweebs on social media making fun of the "old boomer" know full well what a child's motive for a finsta is: Finsta is to conceal from parents they're on instagram, and/or to conceal from parents who they're communicating with, and/or to conceal from parents the risque and harmful content they're posting and viewing. Fake accounts are dangerous. Facebook likes the fake accounts because it pumps their subscriber numbers and gets millions of minors hooked on the app and its ecosystem behind their parents backs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finsta is akin to snapchat.That Facebook exec and all the snarky dweebs on social media making fun of the "old boomer" know full well what a child's motive for a finsta is: Finsta is to conceal from parents they're on instagram, and/or to conceal from parents who they're communicating with, and/or to conceal from parents the risque and harmful content they're posting and viewing. Fake accounts are dangerous. Facebook likes the fake accounts because it pumps their subscriber numbers and gets millions of minors hooked on the app and its ecosystem behind their parents backs.

No, it’s not. Finsta is not an app. It isn’t a platform. It’s an account made on Instagram. Educate yourself. You have zero idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

News flash your kids are doing all sorts of things you don’t know about. Finsta accounts on ig (which went out about 2 years ago) are the LEAST of your worries.