Like @coloradotravis.bsky.social I consumed this over the weekend, and I highly encourage everyone to read it. The coverage is treating the book as an expose of Meta culture and execs and while it is that, I think the more interesting parts are in between and focus on global power dynamics 1/ - ThreadSky

moskov.goodventures.org • 95 days ago

Like @coloradotravis.bsky.social I consumed this over the weekend, and I highly encourage everyone to read it.

The coverage is treating the book as an expose of Meta culture and execs and while it is that, I think the more interesting parts are in between and focus on global power dynamics 1/

Comments

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

For an example that is very relevant to Bsky, part of the issue with FB fomenting violence in Myanmar was that users there were using low-bandwidth versions of the apps that didn't have post reporting capabilities at all. That rendered their moderation systems useless. 2/

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

There is additionally an intrinsic problem in playing ball with censorship regimes like China: once they have leverage over you, it's hard to keep the balance of "it's better that they have this than nothing". The regime asks for more, and now you have revenue on the line, and redlines dissolve. 3/

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

Moreover, it's very difficult to isolate the liberal citizen data from the illiberal data, e.g. if China insists on monitoring their citizens even when they leave the country. I feel pretty clear it's better to never take the first step (and for related reasons Asana does not operate there). 4/

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

Wynn-Williams, via the stories that make Meta execs appear personally callous (primarily Joel Kaplan and Sheryl in this book, and Mark only to a much lesser extent imo) makes the case that Meta should do *more* to mitigate problems. I've seen for a long time that the Meta reaction to this is... 5/

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

"it's never enough, why try". They've made genuine efforts that were woefully insufficient and came away with a sense of victimhood that makes them defensive and inclined to circle the wagons around any criticism. This is weak in terms of personal character, but the issues are bigger than that: 6/

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

Who should decide? Who can check their power? What happens when, just like TikTok did in America, they use the platform itself to manipulate the conversation? What are the implications of power having the tools to protect and entrench itself? 7/

gjmcgowan.bsky.social•95 days ago

What are you doing after Asana Dustykins?

scottinmarin.bsky.social•95 days ago

“I feel pretty clear it's better to never take the first step”

So much this…

nuke.blue•95 days ago

This is really good to hear. It's on it's way to my house now.

scripting.com•95 days ago

What are post reporting capabilities?

roj.as•95 days ago

I believe it's the ability of a user to flag a post for having inappropriate content, spam, etc.

mkempnl.bsky.social•94 days ago

It's an excellent read.

votecnp.bsky.social•95 days ago

One of the great tragedies of history will be how the internet and social media, which had so much potential for refreshing liberation and open exchange of views, became hijacked and evil under US Capitalist structures and ultimately appear to be a force of great evil, oppression, and even genocide.

bleach100.bsky.social•95 days ago

I had not heard much about the book before now, but now I will be buying a copy. Zuck would have better off not suppressing it. Made interest go off the charts.

2diamondeyes.bsky.social•95 days ago

The (Barbara) Streisand Effect. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67299/how-barbra-streisand-inspired-streisand-effect

apavl.bsky.social•94 days ago

I believe Meta successfully obtained a court order to stop promotion of the book. I think the premise was the author was in violation of non-disparagement agreements.

1hottoddy.bsky.social•95 days ago

I just purchased it yesterday. Can’t wait to start it.

martijon.bsky.social•95 days ago

Reading it now. I never really understood the Facebook thing and never used it. Its origins are not inspiring.

btb.bsky.social•94 days ago

I worked at Meta after you for 11 years and quit in 2020 because I couldn't change the mentality of "why try" on the hard social problems that created real world harms. Mark, Sheryl, Cox, Boz just didn't care about ensuring a safer democratic platform.

moskov.goodventures.org•94 days ago

Cox too? Neither he nor Boz are mentioned in the book at all. Boz I assumed bc he was just doing other stuff, but Cox I figured was getting a pass.

btb.bsky.social•94 days ago

Unfortunately yes. I delayed resigning when he returned on the hopes he would make a difference. I pitched investments in expanded internal research, broader university research partnerships and CrowdTangle expansion to help get a handle on the platform. Ultimately they declined and I quit.

drabrahampsych.bsky.social•95 days ago

There’s currently 60 people waiting for audio and 50 for text at my library through the Libby app. I bet that number will grow rapidly as word spreads.

cruotolo.bsky.social•95 days ago

360 waiting for 12 copies at my library...!

mmorearty.bsky.social•94 days ago

I have a tendency to give the benefit of the doubt, so for years when reading about FB, I’ve been unconvinced of serious ethical problems there. But many of these stories are impossible to look past. The Hong Kong and China details struck me as especially awful.

mmorearty.bsky.social•94 days ago

I’m not saying all of these issues are easy to resolve — some are subtle and hard — but the callous disregard for users’ safety and data is appalling.

moskov.goodventures.org•94 days ago

My view has been that the problems are subtle and hard but they were trying and getting wiser/humbler, but then they stopped trying and Zuck started saying “no apologies” and now there is no defense.

definitelyover30.bsky.social•94 days ago

📌

kelazdesertsky.bsky.social•95 days ago

📌

noahgift.com•93 days ago

A tech companies faulty business model doesn't entitle it to destroy democracy and facilitate genocide. Not buying the excuse, well it is hard. Go to prison then. This is criminal mafia like behavior.

sarahdptearth.bsky.social•95 days ago

📌

kompani101.bsky.social•94 days ago

I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, excellent.

johncarrabc.bsky.social•94 days ago

I am reading it. It is great fun and highly instructive.

paulruschmann.bsky.social•95 days ago

"The Social Network" is the only movie I've ever watched in which I loathed every one of its characters.

moskov.goodventures.org•95 days ago

That hurts my feelings man

thatsjustlikeyouropinionman.com•95 days ago

“Except for Moskovitz. He was the sole ray of sunshine shimmering on the silver screen, a hopeful spirit in a dreary landscape.”

migueldeicaza.bsky.social•95 days ago

I have not yet watched it :-)

corruption47.bsky.social•95 days ago

I think it explain why Zuckerberg, et al embraced Trump this time. They are all about power. Period. This isn't about connecting the world to be better. It's about POWER, MONEY AND MORE MONEY. They do not care about the impact of their product.

pamballard3.bsky.social•95 days ago

Please buy, but not from Amazon.

eazyent.com•95 days ago

just bought it!

winecave.bsky.social•95 days ago

Ordered via https://Thriftbooks.com and it's been shipped!

agitated-plebeian.bsky.social•95 days ago

Haven't read it yet, but I bought it this weekend.

facednl.bsky.social•94 days ago

Make it the theme/message of an awesome fantasy novel and I might read it

moskov.goodventures.org•94 days ago

Its journey before destination

shaunhare.bsky.social•95 days ago

The issues with the Facebook empire are serious and important, but there's not much that's new or hasn't been told before in this retelling of FB failings

johnax.com•94 days ago

📌

gdc27.bsky.social•95 days ago

I'd second that. I’d recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest what motivates big tech. It seems it’s not necessarily altruism. And may not be a great place to work.

apavl.bsky.social•94 days ago

Yeah the hypocrisy of what it was really like is not surprising. Sheryl’s “Lean In” was always bullshit.

blueekko.bsky.social•95 days ago

Holy cow you finished it over the weekend? I need to get on it!

apavl.bsky.social•94 days ago

It’s an easy, quick read and short at 350 pages.

blueekko.bsky.social•94 days ago

Agreed! Just finding the time is my problem but I’m reading a few chapters each night before bed.

thefindoutfiles.bsky.social•95 days ago

📌

deeppurple64.bsky.social•94 days ago

Just received a copy. Just need to finish this first.

eleonor.is-hella.tech•94 days ago

committed to reading this, convinced mainly by the actions of the meta pr machine & personal insight ;)

ntbeaubier.bsky.social•95 days ago

Haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet, but bought the physical print version when I heard FBook was trying to ban sales. They can’t repossess a hardback from my bookcase.