[throwaway94843]

The internet is decentralized. Social networks are centralized attention monopolising machines where sophisticated algorithms work to manipulate users. Social networks enable virality on a scale not seen before, which provides a massive incentive to bad actors.

Virality via email didn’t have the same impact, simply because there was so much spam that people don’t trust the medium. USENET was similar, with the trolls drowned out by pure spam, and no one trusting anyone.

Social media presents unique challenges that do not exist on other parts of the internet.

[ummonk]

>Social networks are centralized attention monopolising machines where sophisticated algorithms work to manipulate users.

That's not true for WhatsApp though is it? It's just messaging + forwarding, not unlike email.

[throwaway94843]

You are correct. There is no reason for WhatsApp to shut down forwarding immediately ...It’s not like any credible competitor is out there (and if any emerged, chances are it would be strangled in its cradle by concerned governments).