New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed S4505, a law that requires websites to display warnings claiming that features like algorithmic feeds, push notifications, infinite scroll, like counts, and autoplay cause addiction – despite, as TechDirt argues, the absence of scientific consensus supporting such claims.
I like the part where the cites techdirt article implies that the authors of the bill are tied to big tech while talking about regulation that big tech absolutely does not want. Then they scream about “correlation doesn’t equal causation” while Facebook and co have repeatedly been caught admitting to trying to make their algorithms as addicting as possible.
Is it well written legislation? No. Are these arguments against it well written? Also no. Social media may not be as addicting as the bill implies, but to say that it’s pseudoscience is really stupid.
I like the part where the cites techdirt article implies that the authors of the bill are tied to big tech while talking about regulation that big tech absolutely does not want.
A major goal of this nonsense is so that big tech can put a warning on their shitty products and then wash their hands of any responsibility. It’s much easier and more in line with their values than for example censoring nazis, zios, pedos, et al. which are an actual problem.
Facebook and co have repeatedly been caught admitting to trying to make their algorithms as addicting as possible.
What about Lemmy? Pixelfed? Y’all are advocating for the worst people on the planet to deepen their control of the internet based off fake science. The first “social media” sites to go will be ones like this.
Is it well written legislation? No. Are these arguments against it well written? Also no.
No surprise. And yet libs support it. Also no surprise.
Social media may not be as addicting as the bill implies, but to say that it’s pseudoscience is really stupid.
Maybe you don’t understand science but there is actually very little evidence that “social media” is “bad”. Just relying on your feelings is what’s actually stupid. The absolute dumbest is thinking that the state/capitalism is making a good faith effort to help humanity based on solid science.
Regardless of the scientific consensus, what’s the point? It sounds like all this will achieve is another annoying pop-up similar to the cookie popups that we get now due to the European law. It’s just a way to wave your hands and claim to be doing something without actually addressing any of the problems of social media.
i think it is important for people to be informed. like with the cookie banner, you might always press “accept all”, but i do not and i like having the choice to do so.
The point of the cookie button is giving people a choice. There’s no choice here.
you have the choice not to use the app. and for some, the “this is addictive” banner will influence their choice of whether they want to use the app or not.
This kind of pseudo-science is very popular. People really thinking there’s substantial scientific evidence that “social media” is “bad”. Literally making this false belief into a law.
edit: Lots of downvotes. Zero reliable studies posted. I understand that this pseudo-science confirms your pre-concieved biases but that doesn’t make it scientific. Y’all are yearning for the worst people to have even more power to control criticism and news about capitalism, imperialism, genocide, etc.
edit2: TikTok.
If you think Social media isn’t “bad”, you’re a fucking imbecile.
