There have been disturbing actions on Facebook. This even includes murder. But recently, Facebook hired many to stop hate speech and hate promotion. Hence, here’s how they do it. Facebook code of conduct exposed.
So somehow, British publication The Guardian?has over 100 training manuals. Such training fights violence, hatred, terrorism, hard core pornography, even cannibalism. One evil they address is revenge porn. So here is how. They say revenge porn is content that invades privacy, the victim is nude and/or sexually active, and does not consent. But what do they do about it? Consequently, that’s not so clear.
Believe it or not, the guidelines I read are more lenient then I thought. For instance, take violent threats. For example, threatening to harm or kill a famous person is against these new rules. So is violence against any racial or religious group. However, other threats can pass. But the new Facebook code of conduct will even tolerate acts or attempts of self-harm or suicide. This is because they don’t want to censor or punish anybody already on the edge. They’ll even allow animal abuse, except for extreme cases. However, they will block actions of child abuse, especially it the abuser celebrates his abusive actions.
I thought Facebook would be too strict. But now, I wonder if these rules are too lenient. Remember the cry about ‘fake news’? It seems like they worry more about that than they do about extreme violence. I’m glad they’re confronting that. And I understand the Facebook wants to respect free speech. I’m glad they are. But I believe Facebook, and all other IT services, should provide some safe space for children and sensitive viewers. I may be old school. But I don’t think acts of self-harm and abuse is a safe space for children or the sensitive. So what do we do? How does the Facebook code of conduct ?walk the like between free speech and a safe space?
Social media used for good…and evil. Yes, social media often gets a bad reputation. But sometimes, people do use it for good. But others use it for evil and madness. So here are two examples.
First, let me cover the good. Instagram opens a space to address mental health. Hence, they created a hashtag #Hereforyou. They’re focusing on three particular issues. Those are eating disorders, depression, and suicide. This hashtag also connects you to a community with people who struggle with these same issues. Instagram COO Marne Levine came up with the cause. Supporting Levine is movie star?Troian Bellisario, who had her own struggle with eating disorders. They created this because millions struggle with mental issue. What #Hereforyou does is create a community. Yes, there are others going through the same struggles. But it also has doctors, psychologists, and other professionals to help those fighting mental illness. So kudos to Instagram for creating this. They may even save lives through this.
But while Instagram is saving lives, some sociopaths on social media are trying to take them. Two boys shot and a teenage girl. The boys were 14 and girl was 16. Thankfully, the young lady survived. But why did they shoot her? Because her Snapchat message annoyed them, and she wasn’t even trying to annoy them. The girl repeatedly contacted them through Snapchat. But instead of asking her to stop, they conspired to kill her. Now, they’re facing attempted murder charges. Also, the 14-year-olds will be tried like adults. Though the girl survived, she now has paralysis and partial blindness. If convicted, the boys will face life in prison.
It almost seems like the boys looked for an excuse to murder. They used social media for that demonic quest. But let’s be thankful for people like Marne Levine and Trojan Bellisario. They’re proving social media used for good. The two boys prove social media being used for evil. So for those in computer repair, and in any other job in IT service, we have a choice. Will we use social media for good, or for evil?
Most of us know the headlines by now. So most know the tensions between the US and North Korea, as well as with other nations. Consequently, many ask, “What will become of this?” One hacktivist group says these tensions could have catastrophic results. Hacking group Anonymous warns of World War Three.
Anonymous put out a video telling people to prepare for WW3. They also say signs of war on the Korean peninsula are looming. The video is on You Tube. In fact, it’s around six minutes long and it’s been up for several days now. As usual, the Anonymous newscaster disguised his/her voice. They also wore the Guy Fawkes masks. They don’t call them Anonymous for nothing.
But back to their warnings of WW3. They pointed out military movements the US, Japan and South Korea made. They also claim President Donald Trump tested several ballistic missiles last week. Of course, we all know about North Korea’s nuclear tests as of late. Then Anonymous said China urged it’s people in North Korea to get out ASAP. Furthermore, Anonymous claims Australia is now involved. In fact, they’re looking for strategies involving the Indian Ocean. Hacking group Anonymous warns there will be severe world consequences if World War 3 really breaks out.
So what does this have to do with computer repair, or anything technology? Well, hacking group Anonymous told us things mainstream media wouldn’t, or couldn’t. Some of it was wrong. But some of it was right. I’m not saying I’m a big Anonymous fan. But when they issue a dire report like this, maybe we should at least listen. We can agree to disagree, but we should at least listen. Like them or not, they have made a big impact on the world in recent years. Obviously, I hope these warnings don’t come to anything. I don’t want this disaster anymore than you do. Remember what Einstein taught us, “I don’t know with what weapons WW3 will be fought. But they will fight WW4 with sticks and stones.” I think that’s why Anonymous put this report out. What do you think of hacking group Anonymous’ latest video?
Apple and Amazon never got along that well. But that was probably a good thing. Because that bred competition. They competed for our business and our loyalty. However, note how I’m using past tense. Amazon and Apple team up: What about competitors?
So here’s how Amazon and Apple team up. They agree to bring the Amazon video app to the Apple TV box. Do you know what this means? This means Amazon Prime subscribers can watch their favorite shows using their Apple TV. But before this, Amazon Prime users had to resort to trickery to watch their shows on Apple TV. And such trickery included connecting other Apple products using a WiFi connection.
However, it’s going to be a lot easier now. Well, maybe not now. These Amazon services will be available on Apple TV sometime in fall 2017. It will probably happen just in time for the new fall 2017-18 TV lineup. Again, let me make this clear. No deal is official. But according to tech journalists and speculators, this deal would have to come from the very top. Hence, it would have to meet approval from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. But why do this? Because they want to dominate the entertainment world at any costs.
So if that means merging their services, they will do it. Of course, nobody from Amazon nor Apple is talking. However, if Amazon and Apple team up like this, then what about competitors? Now I could play the cross-examiner. This could be a good thing for Apple TV watchers and Amazon Prime subscribers. Both have millions. So why should Amazon Prime people have to jump through hoops just to watch TV programs on Apple TV? Nobody else has to do that. And they would have a point. But still, what about competitors? And what about those, even in IT support and computer repair, who don’t care about Amazon Prime or Apple TV? Is this merger (let’s call if for what it really is) even worth it?
On Easter Sunday 2017, a guy made a Facebook video. But this wasn’t like other Facebook videos. Because he made one of himself killing a 74-year-old innocent man, then claimed he killed several others. Also, in April 2017, someone posted their own suicide. This is an epidemic Mark Zuckerberg wants to rid Facebook of. So Facebook fights violent videos by hiring 3,000.
Facebook will hire them to monitor violent and harmful videos. Also, this team will remove them quicker. ?Zuckerberg believes this move is vital. He hints that with more people, they deal with such videos more effectively. Facebook gets millions of complaints every week. Also, keep in mind Facebook has over two billion people. So many believe this move isn’t enough.
Yes, I know most people don’t put violent and deadly posts on Facebook. But all it takes is a small handful to mess it up for everyone else. This is just another attempt to make Facebook a safer place. They launched tools for loved ones to contact each other in the wake of natural disaster or mass violent attacks. Then they set up suicide prevention tools. Furthermore, they have tools to combat the epidemic of revenge porn and sexploitation. Now Facebook fights violent videos.
They also vow to fight ‘fake news’ and ‘hate speech’. I don’t know how to feel about that one. Yes, I’m all for getting rid of murder and suicide online. Why any psychopath wants to put that online is beyond me. Furthermore, why would anybody want to see a murder or suicide online? I do think every IT service company should fight this kind of videos. But them tackling ‘fake news’ and ‘hate speech’; I’m weary about that. Because I don’t want Mark Zuckerberg, or any other Facebook employee, telling me what ‘fake news’ and ‘hate speech’ are. That gives them way too much power. And couldn’t that lead to censorship altogether?
One thing about Facebook: It often target people’s emotions. For example, a Facebook friend posts a news article. Then, others feel emotional and rant about that same article. But I read one disturbing report. It has to do with Facebook emotions: Do they target venerable teens?
So this report leaked to The Australian. Supposedly, this report talked about how Facebook could target the emotions of millions of teenagers. They talked about looking for teens who want to ‘look good’ or ‘lose weight’ or ‘gain confidence’. All of this is to target them to advertisers. This is all according to this The Australian report. Also, Facebook can see when teens feel ‘useless’, ‘worthless’ or ‘like a failure’. So it sounds like they really are preying on Facebook emotions, especially on young teenagers.
But Facebook employees say not so. One calls this article misleading. They also say this was to study how people overall act on Facebook. They insists Facebook in no way targets venerable teens. But Facebook did apologize for this. Also, they say they broke no laws, or other legal rules, during this process. Facebook promises to improve it’s research. And they vow to take actions against anyone who abuses their research policies.
I don’t know what to say about this one. I understand the outrage. No company, no IT service company, or any other, should ever exploit the emotions of underage peoples. This goes double for those already feeling bad about themselves. That’s from a moral stand. But what about business? Let me explain. Advertisers always go after people’s vulnerabilities. It’s been that way for decades. Look at this early 1960s commercial; it preys on people’s social fears of being outcast because of bad breath. I hate to say it, but preying on people’s fears is a part of advertising. But doing it to young, struggling teenagers is something else. You have to draw the line. And to use teens already struggling with emotions is crossing that line. So I hope Facebook is sincere with this apology. Was this social research or were Facebook emotions purposely targeted?
