• lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
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    5 days ago

    Oh noes: a private company that has no duty to challenge falsehoods has given up any pretense of giving a fuck.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      They asolutely should and likely do have a duty to challenge falsehoods.

      The word private makes people feel like it isnt anyone’s business but that isnt the case.

      • lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
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        4 days ago

        I’d rather “trust” a company that cuts the bullshit with notices like

        The stories and information posted here are artistic works of fiction and falsehood.
        Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact.

        to remind the user that trusting noncredible information from unreliable sources is a ridiculous concept.

        • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          Except for the users presenting shit as facts and it being promoted through their platform.

          • lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
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            19 hours ago

            Doesn’t reminding users not to be so gullible address that?

            A problem is promoting unrealistic expectations that untrustworthy information is reliable because someone else will unerringly determine the truth & catch falsehoods from spreading. Claiming that ever made sense is bogus.

            • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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              5 hours ago

              What is your position here, that they dont have a responsibility or they do?

              The platform hosts everyone from nazi sympathisers to famed and accredited journalists, should they be presented as equals? Because if there is no onus and it is all caught under the same blanket warning there is a false equivalency being presented.

              • lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
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                3 hours ago

                That it’s irresponsible to sell a false bill of goods: a company sincere about not giving a fuck & that merely puts out an advisory is more credible than one that entertains illusions that fact-checking all social media isn’t a foolish endeavor. We don’t get that in reality, so why should we pretend we can get that online? Ultimately, the burden & responsibility to work out the truth is & has always been with the individual, and it’s irresponsible to pretend we can sever or transfer that responsibility, especially in an open medium like the town square, social media, or general reality.

                There’s also the intractable problem of settling the truth. Why should anyone trust a company or anyone to be arbiter of truth? Infallible authorities don’t exist & they are inevitably going to get this wrong & draw wild conclusions like that pro-palestinian protests are antisemitic & need to be censored. While they could merely place notes/comments of fallible, researched opinions, we already get that with discussions like in real life.

                Social media isn’t a controlled publication like an encyclopedia or news agency that chooses its writers & staff. It’s a communication platform open to the public.

                Instead of promoting a false sense of confidence that lowers people’s guard with assurances no one can deliver, it’s better to cut the pretense, admit there is no real solutions, and remind everyone the obvious—unreliable information from anyone is untrustworthy, so they need to grow up, verify their information, and keep their guard up.