Holy crap, not sure how legit this is...I don't use social media (I try to, but too old  )...anyways. Any younger in the know tech savvy ppl want to verify if this is the case?

"The Algorithm is designed to keep "users" "engaged" by amplifying negative emotions and feelings of conflict"...
"In many ways, rage, anger and other negative emotions and behavior are the currency (and business model) of social media and the internet."

Mind you I am an anti-conspiracy theory type  
I typed this into Bing just to see what I would get: - does social media use an algorithm of negative emotions and conflict -

 

It’s not a secret and it’s not a conspiracy— we’ve known this for a while now. But social media is like the modern day cigarette. We know the harm it can cause but once you start, it’s hard to quit.

Humans are naturally social animals who crave novelty and new information. Best thing to do (imo) is to be mindful of how much time/energy you engage with online stuff now and slowly cut back to what you think is acceptable in your life. Everyone is in a unique situation, so a one size fits all solution just isn’t gonna work.

 

Right. It's kind of like how it's not the food you're eating that's the problem but how much of it you're indulging in. Obviously, it's best to eat healthily the majority of the time, but it's enjoyable to eat junk from time to time too. Just don't overdo it and everyone's level of "acceptable" is going to be different based on their own circumstances. Social media is exactly the same.

 

I guess I was lucky to dodge the social media bullet for the most part. Never fell for MySpace or Facebook. I did set up a Twitter for my business but never used it because an asshole in Pittsburgh made me so mad. I was at a show (that I'd later abandon) and this fool was on the loudspeaker telling vendors to tweet that they were at Asshole Collector Con and I thought "WTF should I advertise your show for you? isn't that part of what we pay through the fucking nose for?" Don't get me wrong, I'd bend over backwards to promote a show like RetroCon, but this guy in Pittsburgh is just a real dick.

The only one that gets me in fits and spurts is LinkedIn. I have that personality type that has to push back when people lie on the internet. So when the economy takes a dump and the usual "nObOdY wAnTs To WoRk" and "hEdGe FuNdS aRe ViCtImS" idiots come out of the woodwork, it's like a nuclear powered magnet.

 

I think it just grabs and holds the attention of people longer. I remember reading somewhere that that was the case for news media, which was why they hone in on specific stories to get people riled up or depressed as it would be good for ad-time and network ratings. But it's not that far out there to suggest the internet would adapt to a similar philosophy. I might be a cynical conspiracy theorist myself these days but this sounds about right to me. Generally though I don't use social media and haven't in years. I use facebook messenger to keep up with people in a group chat and I have an Instagram that's collecting dust except for when I'm feeling especially braindead, but I just can't get back into that kind of stuff anymore. Ranting on message boards designed for nerds is totally cool and stress-free for me tho

 

Well, ... today I googled your toy review site. Man, that American accent.  

I guess same could be said for Aussies, if you can understand us. Haha.

 

Hehehe...remember, I think I have a "goofball" accent...I do like the Aussie accent though and when I tell some American associates I love it they get angry...like really, lol  

 

I at this point keep a twitter more for networking for my streaming channel, otherwise I hopped over to Mastodon and have not looked back. It's been a refreshing change from my usual dives into social media. But found some cool things and met some interesting people. I'm not a heavy user and still trying to find more like minded people without the annoying sides of social media. But thats why mute and block buttons exist.

 

Crikey!

 

I am probably in the minority of people who don't use social media at all unless you count these forums. I used to have Fb in which I only had actual friends, acquaintances, and colleagues in my friends list. Essentially, people who I actually knew or did know at one time. I got rid of it. I never signed up for Twitter, IG, TikTok, etc.

I don't feel like I am missing out whatsoever. I am naturally a very private, introverted individual and I do not wish to document every aspect of my life most of the day. This is something my girlfriend mostly understands, although she is encroaching on this more and more as I like to cook (and I am good at it), and we like to dine out so she shares on her personal IG what we're making/eating.

 

yes, i actually started doing fasting on all my social media since it is so overwhelming

 

One thing I've certainly noticed more since slashing back by social media interaction and not regretting it, is the rather hackneyed built-in guilt-tripping that exists in the whole tedious process; the way the structure of it is feared around "Hey, look, you simply must have an opinion on this, you really ought to be sharing it."

Obviously, the above is an example of me sharing it, but still, can't help but benefit from doing so less, and can't help but feel that the whole thing has been one of the more pointless derailments of human endeavour into a socially worthless cul-de-sac of this unhappy century.

 

I am neither overwhelmed or underwhelmed by social media - i’d say I’m just whelmed.

 

Traditionally, the quick fix of social media has been a revelation of no kindness to me; i.e. the quick fix denoting the mere snappiness, of the act of finding out about your destiny, through social media.

Could you be destined, to have intimate relations with someone? If not for a mere check, on your Facebook account, or Twitter account, your ability to preserve the dream remains

 

Social Media is fed by those that feed from it, used to stay in contact and for information sharing gives it a bit of purpose but humans by default are attention seekers.

The worst of all of it is when I see two words especially: viral and hack

Anyone using them such be on a list to go into a volcano.

 

I recently deleted my Twitter and have not looked back. Had a lot of followers over there and was pretty active in Star Wars/gaming Twitter, but Twitter really encourages bad faith engagements and, after Elon took over, the whole site is kind of spiraling more than usual. Took that as my cue to leave. Glad I did.

 

My mom was just mentioning yesterday that social media has completely controlled peoples minds. Giving them the wrong ideas. She was pointing out during a talk we had about something chaotic that happened south in another country.

 

Reddit has several political forums for you, dude. Since you can't move past your doomer obsessing, at least go somewhere where you don't have to figure out creative ways to skirt the rules to keep posting about it.

 

I'm overwhelmed with all sorts of funny reading the daily Star Trek gifs/memes on this forum.

Come on now. This forum is for everyone who wants to participate; no matter how little or great. Scroll past if you don't wish to read member's post. There's also the Ignore function. Or take a break if social media is getting you all wound up. It's just not worth the anguish.

 

Since you felt the need to chime in, how about you go through our post history and look at our multiple interactions that are more than pleasant. The only time I've ever called this poster out for their posting is when they try their best to hem haw political things into their posts because they're Dooms saying over some garbage that they read over Twitter or Instagram or whatever the hell. I don't call people out lightly on here, and if I do I have a damn good reason. The poster has already had posts removed because they insist on posting political things.