[SoSoRoCoCo]

The funny thing is, Facebook CAN be stopped: if people don't use it, it vanishes. The existence of Facebook is 100% in the hands of the users. The problem is: 3 billion users with wildly varying options, beliefs, and attitudes. There's got to be a name for this paradox.

[rprenger]

Do you mean the collective action problem? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_action_problem

[SoSoRoCoCo]

Yes, thank you!

I think that very well captures 95% of the effect.

I also think the 5% which doesn't fit relates to the individual profit motive. I don't know how users of social media profit in the spirit of the CAP. I would replace "profit motive" with "ignorance that their passive involvement enables" the destructive direction social media is heading.