Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

This is interesting. I welcome it.

The cynical side of me knows that the content review humans are expensive. “Community Notes” is (I assume) volunteer. So it may also be a bit of a cost-cutting measure.



Maybe also a keeping Trump happy measure, given that he's been threatening Zuckerberg.


I mean, arguably, the installation of a lot of these processes were also driven by the government (and whoever was president at the time.)


I think the pressure to keep it family friendly, and not be an anything-goes shitshow, is more from advertisers who don't want their ads to appear beside anything objectionable. I don't known how that works with FaceBook or Twitter (who are bleeding advertisers), but with print media advertisers apparently get to specify lists of words (pertaining to objectionable subject matter) that disqualify articles from appearing alongside their ad.

The majority of FaceBook's business is advertising, so that is presumably their primary concern (or at least was, until Trump's threats have become an issue).


Which is sad.

All these centibillionaires kissing the ring is just sad.

They have the money, economic might, and social capital to not have to engage with Trump.

Instead, they kiss his ass. Why?


Because they tacitly acknowledge that Trump is an authoritarian who will come after them, if they dont kiss the ring. They would rather keep their wealth and freedom than do battle with an authoritarian.


Yes, and they willingly served him all the ability to become an authoritarian and handed him power.

Mark could EASILY turn around and say to Trump "you know what, motherfucker? I got you in power, I looked the other way in '16, in '20, and I willingly allowed foreign actors to amplify you and your messaging. I own you. You want to play hardball with me? I'll release EVERYTHING. Watch me".

Trump has a history of wanting to be a dictator, but he also has a history of backing down when people more powerful or wealthier than him have the ability to prove his ass is nothing but a fraud. He once tried to sue his biographer when his biographer claimed he wasn't a billionaire. When the biographer wouldn't back down, Trump was the one to back down when it became clear he would be subject to discovery. Turns out "I'm really a billionaire, believe me!" doesn't really work in a court of law if you can't prove it. Especially when several decades of your taxes won't be released because it would prove what we've known all along - Donald Trump actually sucks at business.


* hectobillionaire

A centibillionaire is worth ten million.


It's the same reason that companies within Nazi Germany had to make nice with Hitler.

There's an authoritarian in charge who will use all capabilities of the government to harass his opponents. The Supreme Court said that Trump can do whatever he wants, so you can kiss the ring or watch him seize or shut down your business.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: