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Tech's Message To the Hill: We're Not Facebook (axios.com) 43

Posted by msmash from the closer-look dept.
TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat will appear before Congress Tuesday with a key priority: distinguishing their practices from Facebook's. From a report: Facebook is under attack, and its tech peers don't want to get caught in the crossfire as lawmakers mull legislation to rein in the company. At the hearing before the Senate Commerce consumer protection subcommittee, representatives from TikTok, YouTube and Snap will focus on ways their services differ from Facebook and Instagram and measures they've already put in place to protect children.

TikTok's Michael Beckerman, vice president and head of public policy, will highlight proactive safety moves the company has made, including disabling direct messages for users under 16. Snap's Jennifer Stout, vice president of global public policy, will note that the company was designed to avoid some of the toxicity of social media platforms and uses human moderation for creator posts that will reach more than 25 users. YouTube's Leslie Miller, vice president of government affairs and public policy, will point out that the company already has designed different services and products for younger users, including YouTube Kids, Made for Kids and Supervised Experiences.
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Tech's Message To the Hill: We're Not Facebook More

Tech's Message To the Hill: We're Not Facebook

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  • We're Not Facebook (Score:4)

    by oldgraybeard ( 2939809 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @01:02PM (#61929081)
    But they are in the same mold.

  • Remember: (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Nrrqshrr ( 1879148 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @01:07PM (#61929101)

    If you're not paying for the product, YOU are the product. A simple fact, often forgotten.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by laktech ( 998064 )
      This use to be.. more true. It's often the case now that you're also the product even when paying. For examples, ISPs selling your browsing data, where you're still a product and are subsidizing what would otherwise be a more expensive internet bill.
  • YouTube censors conservative posts. As I mentioned to my wife and sons... it's like we are living in a Sci Fi Movie. It's nuts. Social Media used to control the public's thought. Well.. I don't follow that crap.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by spire3661 ( 1038968 )
      All forums are moderated...Calling it censorship just shows you have no idea what is involved in keeping a forum open. Conservatives keep calling for violence and cruelty, OF COURSE you are going to get moderated.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by PopeRatzo ( 965947 )

      YouTube censors conservative posts.

      No, YouTube amplifies conservative posts (aka "hate posts"/misinformation/violent content).

      YouTube (and all social media) has been the best friend of what passes for conservatives these days.

      https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/... [nypost.com]

      • When you couldn't go near YouTube without seeing an advertisement for the right wing propaganda Mill Prager U? I guess if you had a really good ad blocker you might not have noticed but if you didn't you literally could not click on any video whatsoever without seeing a lengthy advertisement the consisted of a video full of outright lies and falsehoods. There's something of a cottage industry on YouTube of debunking Prager U videos. It's tough work because of 5 minute video from them usually takes about 30

    • The upcoming gubernatorial election in my state is a close race and both candidates are buying up Youtube spots.

      The difference? You are allowed to skip the Republican's ads. But you can't skip the Democrat's ads.

      Did one pay extra for this, or is there something else going on? I'd like to know.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by crow ( 16139 )

        YouTube seems to be terribly inconsistent in letting you skip ads. You may not be able to skip an ad after seeing the same one and skipping several times. I suspect you just got unlucky and noticed a pattern in what is really random noise. Though it may be possible that advertisers are able to pay more to make ads less skipable. (I've never bought a YouTube ad, so I don't know.)

        • Yup, youtube is just weird with ads. Some you can skip, some you're forced to watch. If I have to watch the full ad, I just don't watch the video. On my computer at least, I see zero ads on youtube anyway, it's only on my TV that they show up.

        • YouTube seems to be terribly inconsistent in letting you skip ads.

          You're a Slashdotter with a 5-digit UID, so I assume you must be watching YT on a phone; there's no excuse for letting it feed you ads if you're using your own computer.

        • YouTube seems to be terribly inconsistent in letting you skip ads. You may not be able to skip an ad after seeing the same one and skipping several times. I suspect you just got unlucky and noticed a pattern in what is really random noise.

          It is 100% consistent. There is no pattern or randomness.

        • I think you can pay extra to make your ads unskippable. Geico ads are always unskippable even the 15-second ones. I'm guessing what makes it seem random is that sometimes add buyers will pay to have some ads and skippable and some ads not

      • I asked the internet and it told me that marketing wizards get advertisers to pay more for more eyeball time. Non-skippable ads cost more. This is not rocket science.

        https://support.google.com/you... [google.com]

        https://support.google.com/goo... [google.com]

  • But we're not Al Capone!

    • No... you are worse than Capone. Your products have made millions of people addicted to social media. All by design.
      Zuck needs to be made to pay and pay lots for the crimes against humanity.

      • So they're like tobacco companies. Or soda companies. Or television companies. Or video game companies. Or candy companies (soo good, must have more...).

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by mi ( 197448 )

      Just say NO to ALL social media

      I do hope, you exclude Slashdot — and the rest of the present company...

  • lawmakers mull legislation to rein in the company

    As this Libertarian explains so plainly [ronpaulinstitute.org], such government control of private companies is simply Fascist...

    Maybe you could justify it by the company being "essential" to the country's very existence or ability to defend itself — such arguments are used for railroads [army.mil], for example.

    But Social Media companies are not "essential". Moreover, they — or the speech they facilitate — are explicitly protected by the First Amendment. Government "reining

    • As this Libertarian explains so plainly, such government control of private companies is simply Fascist...

      As a this libertarian explains so plainly: I'll call anything I don't like fascism.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by mi ( 197448 )

        I'll call anything I don't like fascism

        Paul's article explains his meaning succinctly: government controlling most aspects of industry without taking control overtly (as Communism would). Unlike racism or waging wars, this is one common

        Whether or not his definition matches yours, he explains, why (what he means by) Fascism is wrong.

        You don't debate it — not in general, nor in particular, as pertains to Social Media. Instead you're sniping at semantics — shitposting...

        The American right despises

        • You seem to confuse strongly held opinions with facts. Anyone can claim anything they like is fascism and they can make whatever analogies they like to the real world, for free. That doesn't make any of it correct or relevant.

          Naturally you will consider me to be shitposting because you cannot cope with the concept that your "arguments" will never convince anyone who isn't as blinkered as you are.

  • Sheep and sheep dogs (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Whateverthisis ( 7004192 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @03:10PM (#61929621)
    Herding dogs are some of the smartest dog breeds around. There are great videos of Aussie's (Australian Sheepdogs) herding sheep. Keep in mind an Aussie is about 15 lbs and yet one is capable enough of herding an entire flock of 200+lb sheep. They do that by being constantly annoying, nipping at their heels, etc. Sheep are stupid, lazy animals, but the males in particular can be quite confrontational because they think they lead the flock. They generally go where the Aussie wants them to avoid all the annoyances. But every so often some uppity ram gets angry and turns hard, confronting the Aussie. The Aussie knows the sheep is arrogant, lazy and dumb, so it just drops to the ground, chin on paws, and looks down. It submits to the authority of the ram. The ram, thinking it won the contest, turns back to the herd and forgets about it. The Aussie then jumps up and nips it's heels, annoying it back into position, and nothing changed.

    I feel like I'm watching a similar experience. Except it's the politicians that are the big dumb ram, and the tech companies are the Aussies.

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • A quick look at the revenue streams from the big five [visualcapitalist.com] shows that almost their entire income is from ads on their site. Combine that with the fact that they're not cool with the kids, they're under fire from government, and they don't have good public perception.

  • Youtube: We're not facebook because we deplatform and censor viewpoints we don't like even more than Facebook does. Yay.

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