Facebook is a fantastic example of the power of the internet and the ingenuity of talented programmers. Yet, like any corporation that becomes so massive, it wields enormous power across many aspects of life. As such, the company consistently breaks all the rules with minimal punishment.
Ultimately, Facebook lets you down in some of the worst ways possible. The company punishes its users for harmless freedom of speech. It openly allows harmful comments, images, and videos of those it deems undesirable.
Allowing the Sale of Personal Data
Data is a valuable resource in the modern world. No period of history has relied more on personal information than our current time. Therefore, you would think megacorporations would go out of their way to protect their users’ data. Well, the truth is far from desirable. Social media companies, Facebook, in particular, have engaged in user data breaches for money, as outlined with the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the subsequent BrandTotal lawsuit.
Meddling in Elections
Election interference is a hot issue at the moment. President Trump is repeatedly accused of soliciting Russian interference to secure his 2017 victory, although there is no direct evidence. What there is direct evidence of, however, is that certain groups actively carry out targeted campaigns towards specific demographics to sway opinion. And Facebook allows the flow of misinformation and disinformation on behalf of one side to destroy another.
Failure to Censor Horrific Content
The internet is full of horrendous things in certain places. You would expect that social media to propagate peaceful and constructive communication would be devoid of such content. Instead, Facebook content has at times mirrored something you would find on the dark web. Semi-pornographic images are common on the platform, and the odd pair of boobs will slip through the net – as it were. Yet, a 2019 test by Facebook themselves saw how easy it is for repugnant information to flow on its feeds following extremely derogatory comments against Muslims after a violent flare-up in Kashmir.
Biased Policing of the Platform
Given news reports over the past 2 years, it’s fair to say that Facebook prefers some people to others. As a result, Facebook (and Twitter) actively blocked and banned anything they disagreed with on a platform promoting freedom of speech. Blocked content includes pretty much anything supporting Donald Trump, alternative Covid 19 theories, and unbiased analysis of the US Democratic Party’s failings or posts against Joe Biden.
Complete Lack of Transparency
Through all the fun and not-so-fun antics of Facebook and its users, the company is still one of the most opaque in the world. The internal workings of the corporation are more akin to the Manhattan Project. Yet, at the same time, they still don’t offer an easily accessible complete list of reasons why you might find yourself in Facebook Jail; a temporary ban from the platform. And while you can post all the derogatory comments you want about “undesirable” politicians like Trump, you will find yourself becoming banned for creating two posts in quick succession.
