this post was submitted on 17 May 2024
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Privacy
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Same reasons why people still use Facebook - too many folks who think it's still a good thing.
Do people think it's a good thing, or simply the thing where those they know are?
This. I know FB/Meta is awful, but I have a ton of hobby and interest groups I participate in on the platform. So that’s why I stay. However, I have all sorts of browser add-ons that strip the site of all kinds of trackers, suggestions, and all sorts of annoyances. My FB is closer to FB a decade+ ago than what a “normal” user sees.
I'm honestly just there for Facebook marketplace
Do the add-ons you use specifically target Facebook? If so, what are you using to mitigate its manipulative/predatory designs?
Some. Other than basic anti-tracking add ons, Facebook Container is one, and so is Social Media Fixer, which will block whatever you tell it to on FB. I block all “suggested for you” as a keyword and it removes so much junk from FB. I have a couple more I think that help FB be more like its old self, but unfortunately I’m not home and can’t look them up right now on mobile.
tbh as a trans person, facebook groups are pretty great. i've been some awesome trans people there that i still communicate with. also there's a good book community in groups too. groups are great at isolating you from the weird conspiracy theory public content in comments.
Joining groups is actually what drives people into those conspiracy black holes because of the way the recommendation algorithm is designed. It will recommended you more and more extreme groups because they are what keeps people using the platform for longer.
maybe i'm just lucky cause all mine are ttrpgs, books, sapphics, and trans people.
Depends whether you're relying on the algorithm (recommendations) to find new groups or whether you're manually searching for and vetting these groups yourself. If it's the latter then it's not luck, that's a safe and smart approach to take with social media.