[bigbugbag]

The reason people use facebook, (though many hate it) is two fold: 1) because people use facebook 2) because facebook exploit unconscious brain mechanisms to keep people engaged.

The reason alternatives do gain traction is 1) because people use facebook 2) because they don't use such antipatterns.

Sharun has a valid point, instant gratification is among the mechanisms facebook exploit to keep people inside their walled prison and removing this would have a significant impact. Though I'd rather see a strong privacy law forbidding surveillance capitalism and/or removal of advertising. We may see something like if the EU suspends the privacy shield and implements their privacy measure that would force facebook to stop collecting data of all Europeans.

[always_good]

I like how HNers who deleted their Facebook account suggest that everyone else is an addict being unconsciously manipulated by BigCo, ...but they escaped! They're not like those other mindless drones!

And they're back to save the masses!