[shubhamjain]

It's difficult even being someone not from United States. Even more concerning is how most of the social media has been hijacked to echo views that should have been unthinkable a few years ago. For some, it's great news of course. It's free speech—they think. But, I am not sure future generation needs to across opinions like feminism is bad, or women belong in the kitchen.

I do believe that this is a temporary phase, and things would return to a bit of normalcy in a few years. It's my hypothesis that political pendulum swings between two extremes. 2016-21 was a period of extreme leftist opinions and it was problematic too in many ways. The other extreme is a hundred times worse and most people have lost taste for that, too. Secondly, the support for these movements mostly stems from an aging demographic, a lot of which are just passing their last few years.

But I would say social media needs to be clamped down/regulated, free speech be damned. It has caused enough evil already. Can't let a few billionaires decide the direction of world politics.

[marssaxman]

> 2016-21 was a period of extreme leftist opinions

Wouldn't that have been nice? This can only have appeared to be true for those people who are so far on the conservative side of things that they think Democrats are leftists.

[alexanderjchun]

It's definitely difficult to play a game with people who have most of the chips and don't have a good reason to care about how fun the game is when they're gone.

For social media, I want to believe the newer generation is smart enough to want a better platform and I'm optimistic that someone smart enough is going to create a curation algorithm that balances things out. At least I want to take a crack at it at some point.

What's the move for you? US isn't looking too hot I bet. Curious on how people outside the US are adjusting.

[sjw987]

Why do you want a better platform? I hope that people give up on things like social media entirely, meet up in person and socialise properly.

Socialising just doesn't work large-scale on screens. It's like a partial parasocial relationship.

[alexanderjchun]

I consider this with a lot of "solutions" that aren't doing a great job, and I'm not sure. Think it's human nature to want more and for things to be better. I've made great friends online and they're the main reason I've been able to keep a grounded look at the world. I definitely should go touch grass though.

[sjw987]

I respect that opinion.

I hold quite negative views of social media personally. I don't see how it could be built in a way that could suitably replace in-person socialisation. Perhaps the best idea would be a meet-up arranging app, but then that could be handled in a simple chat application really.

[Poomba]

“ Secondly, the support for these movements mostly stems from an aging demographic, a lot of which are just passing their last few years.”

Is there data backing this? Because i feel like there’s also a large young segment (esp young men) who support this current administration and what they stand for

[justinrubek]

Can you provide any specific examples of this "period of extreme leftist opinions"? I can't see this as anything but a non-legitimate comment due to this line. Where the hell has there ever been such a thing? At best I see it as a period of right leaning centrism.