In yet another episode of “what the hell is Facebook doing now,” we bring you yet another installment of the stuckzuck.
Last year, several investment funds, and other shareholders of the Meta Corporation filed a lawsuit in Delaware, claiming that Meta’s directors and senior executives have long known about rampant human trafficking and child sexual exploitation on Facebook and Instagram, but have failed to address the predatory behavior.
We at VeryGood.Coffee wrote about this out of control problem on Facebook – Human Trafficking – The Hush Hush – a little over a year ago, yet, here we are discussing it again.
The plaintiffs’ attorney Christine Mackintosh told the courts “For years, Meta’s directors and senior executives have known that pedophiles and human and sex traffickers have been using Facebook and Instagram to facilitate their noxious activities, but despite this, Meta’s directors utterly failed to implement board level oversight and controls to ferret out these heinous activities and to stop them from proliferating on Meta’s platforms.”
Not surprising, David Ross, an attorney for Meta, argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the alleged conduct of the company’s leaders has not resulted in Meta suffering corporate trauma as required by Delaware law. The company also argues that the lawsuit’s claims are based on speculation that it might face future harm or loss.
Now I’m going to stop you and drop you like a brick.
First. The entire world has seen and continue to see the horseshit that goes on in the world of Facebook. For an attorney to state that no one was harmed or that the plaintiff’s claims are simply “speculation” by Facebook’s Zuckerberg needs to have their head examined.
Go on…Tell this to the people that have lost their children…
Do they look amused? One would not think so.
The plaintiffs contend, however, that Meta has already suffered harm, including sharp drops in its share price and market capitalization amid media reports about trafficking and child sex abuse involving its platforms. They also point to “massive legal defense costs” in related litigation and allege that Meta also has suffered reputational harm.
Something that doesn’t seem to permeate into the mind of the smug Zuckerberg is the fact that there is life outside of the life-sucking time vampire world of Facebook. An easy to understand example would be one of the shareholders taking their daughter to get ice cream on a Sunday afternoon and running into someone they know who has lost their daughter. “Gee. Must be nice to be able to take your daughter to get ice cream, sure wish I could take my daughter to get ice cream.” That would easily constitute “reputational harm.”
We’ve put together six reasons why we believe that there is no cure and as predicted many times by wall street analyst, “Facebook will be a distant memory by 2028.”
1. Facebook’s Negative Perception
Facebook, once the darling of social media websites, has found itself on the receiving end of a lot of side-eye from users. The once-beloved platform has seen a significant shift in public opinion as people become more aware of its drawbacks and shortcomings.
2. Data breaches and Misuse
Privacy? What privacy? Facebook has had more data breaches than a leaky faucet, leaving users feeling like their personal information is more exposed than a streaker at a football game. From sketchy data collection practices to questionable security incidents, it’s no wonder people are starting to feel a little uneasy.
3. Mental Health and Well-being
Logging on to Facebook can feel like stepping into a black hole where time disappears faster than socks in a laundry room. Addictive tendencies and the endless scroll of comparison-inducing content can take a toll on mental health, leaving users feeling like they’re never quite measuring up to their online peers.
4. Misinformation and Fake News
In a world where fake news spreads faster than gossip at a family reunion, Facebook’s algorithmic bias and filter bubbles have become prime suspects. The once-trusted platform has seen a sharp decline in trustworthiness as misinformation that runs rampant, leaving users wondering if they can believe anything they see on their news feeds.
5. Political Polarization and Division
In the vast landscape of social media, Facebook has often been accused of playing a significant role in amplifying political polarization and division. The platform’s algorithms that prioritize engaging content that have inadvertently led to the creation of echo chambers, where users are surrounded by like-minded individuals and shielded from diverse perspectives. This phenomenon reinforces the confirmation bias, where users are more likely to accept information that aligns with their existing beliefs, further deepening societal divisions.
Moreover, Facebook’s influence on public discourse and elections has come under scrutiny. The spread of misinformation and fake news on the platform has raised concerns about the impact of social media on democratic processes. In some instances, malicious actors have exploited Facebook’s reach to manipulate public opinion and sway election outcomes, highlighting the platform’s vulnerabilities in safeguarding the integrity of information shared on its network.
6. Decline in User Engagement and Trust
Facebook has experienced a noticeable decline in user engagement and trust in recent years. The platform has witnessed a decrease in active users and engagement metrics, as individuals seek alternative platforms or reduce their time spent on social media. Changes in the platform’s algorithms and content policies have also contributed to this decline, with users feeling disillusioned by the evolving nature of the platform.
Public perception of Facebook’s trustworthiness has taken a hit, with numerous privacy scandals and data breaches eroding user confidence in the platform. Reports of unauthorized data sharing and questionable handling of user information have further tarnished Facebook’s reputation, leading to heightened skepticism among its user base and the general public.