[notafxn]

I hope this hate on FB ends already, I'm tired of seeing the home page of HN polluted by it.

We all knew what was going on on FB, so acting surprised is silly. And we all know this won't change nothing because most people don't care and will happily keep using FB. And we also know even if people stop using FB they will keep using WA/IG. So what's the point? Is this only a problem now that Trump took advantage of it?

[AJRF]

Who is acting surprised?

Why do you think it is inevitable that people would use WhatsApp or Instagram if they decide to leave Facebook? Is that really as obvious as you are making it out to be? Is there any evidence of that?

The point is that finally, FINALLY the mainstream is paying attention to the potential ramifications of having a consolidated identity on social media, and how they potentially could have their perception of reality distorted by using such services. Now is the time to embrace changes if they come, not to get complacent at the news cycle based on ones own personal cognitive biases.

[tjomk]

The problem is not only Facebook that distorts the reality, it's most of the media. Look at mainstream media like CNN or RT which favour one side and totally ignore the arguments of the other.

All of that will continue to happen no matter what until people start to think critically and question all the information they get, be it from their parents, school teachers, news outlets or social media.

In my circle of friends in fact a lot of people are using IG and WA and ditched Facebook long ago. I use all of the three solely because my business generates a lot of sales through these channels. So I think yes, people will continue to use it in the foreseeable future. But this opinion is based solely on my bubble that I live in.

[pjc50]

RT is not "mainstream media" in any sensible way, it's Russian state propaganda TV.

[matwood]

> Look at mainstream media like CNN

Lets be honest, CNN is just a tabloid now. All they want to talk about is Trumps sexcapades when there are so many other things they can focus on that really matter.

[notafxn]

I live in Western Europe and I'd say 99.9999% of owners of smartphones have either a FB, WA or IG account and use it every day. Everybody uses WA, older people use FB, younger people use IG. If you refuse to use WA you are an outcast, and many people got a smartphone just for WA.

The media likes to drives us with rage because that attracts clicks, and once a new big thing happens this will be forgotten by everybody forever.

[cmorgan31]

Well GDPR is going to have teeth soon and Facebook is a prime case to test its boundaries and prove those base fines will be enforced. It's important to see the outcome and sentiment of the EU and UK in regards to Facebook from a legal standpoint as it helps inform smaller companies of where the proverbial line in the sand is drawn. I think it is likely in their best interest to keep Facebook in the news so as to improve the optics when the inevitable GDPR violations trickle into the Data Protection Agencies of the EU.

[pjc50]

There's an awful lot of people posting "we knew it was bad already, why do you care now?" Remarkably consistently across all articles relating to Facebook. Clearly you want nothing done about this and are happy with this low level of privacy. But on the other hand a lot of people have been unhappy with it for a long time; suddenly the dam has broken and the public discussion in the media is taking an interest.

This happens with many scandals. I'm reminded of LIBOR "rigging", which all the participants thought was entirely normal.

[babuskov]

> Clearly you want nothing done about this and are happy with this low level of privacy.

Facebook already locked down their platform in 2014-2015. There's no use asking Facebook to do anything now. What needs to be done is to hunt down the companies that extracted the data, one by one, trace every copy of it and delete it. But that is really hard to do. It's easier to just keep attacking Facebook.

[Slansitartop]

That covers only part of the scandal, which IMHO has at least two parts:

1) Facebook data was widely shared to all kinds of 3rd parties.

2) Facebook data can be used to manipulate individuals and inappropriately influence the political process.

Even if Facebook fixes #1, #2 is still a problem (either by Facebook itself, or those using its platform).

[notafxn]

I'm not happy with this level of privacy, that's why I don't use Facebook. :-)