The Feed Is Fake

[Danny Deck]

https://archive.ph/2026.05.15-111148/https://www.vulture.com/article/social-media-feeds-chaotic-good-projects-clipping.html

I think this is a very interesting article about how very little goes authentically viral these days. It is mostly focused on culture, not politics, but does have some interesting tidbits about where those things intersect. You can see enough posts using identical language on hot button political issues to at least suspect it's a coordinated campaign of some type and many of the posters are too lazy to change the language at all from the suggested text. 

 

 

 

 

[ionel]

Thought this was a thread about why beef prices are so high ... nevermind ... carry on.  

[Doublehalf]

16 hours ago, Danny Deck said:

https://archive.ph/2026.05.15-111148/https://www.vulture.com/article/social-media-feeds-chaotic-good-projects-clipping.html

I think this is a very interesting article about how very little goes authentically viral these days. It is mostly focused on culture, not politics, but does have some interesting tidbits about where those things intersect. You can see enough posts using identical language on hot button political issues to at least suspect it's a coordinated campaign of some type and many of the posters are too lazy to change the language at all from the suggested text. 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article indeed. I'm not surprised by it I suppose and just reinforces the lack of authenticity world we live in now, which is really discouraging. Not sure how we come back from this. Back to a world where internet bots with agendas arent influencing every person lacking the critical thinking skills to understand their algorithm is re-wiring their brains and ability to actually think freely.

[Danny Deck]

I get creeped out at the idea of legislating against algorithmic social media, but other than that, it's a long long way before enough people get sick of being on them that they lose their power. 

The psychology the sites themselves and these bot networks act on are just so powerful that I really don't think there is a good way to combat them other than logging off. And logging off means maybe being bored for a bit before you find more meangingful hobbies, and who wants to be bored for even a second?

[Doublehalf]

2 hours ago, Danny Deck said:

I get creeped out at the idea of legislating against algorithmic social media, but other than that, it's a long long way before enough people get sick of being on them that they lose their power. 

The psychology the sites themselves and these bot networks act on are just so powerful that I really don't think there is a good way to combat them other than logging off. And logging off means maybe being bored for a bit before you find more meangingful hobbies, and who wants to be bored for even a second?

Agreed- they are literally designed to trigger dopamine release and the only thing effective enough to break that habit is to abstain. 

[wrestlingguy]

I have gone through long periods of deleting social media, and it has been a glorious feeling.

I somehow end up back on Facebook to try to see what friends are up to that I otherwise wouldn't be able to see.

[jross]

Yea Facebook... I'm basically FB friends with family and closer friends.  Say 'no' more than yes to friends.  Probably 200 people.  Meanwhile my nieces have 1000+ on instragram, FB, and the like.  Never walked past someone they don't need to social media befriend and overshare.  Do they not understand folks don't need to know your business and your outerimage is a mirage?  You can't even trust the people you trust... what are you even doing?

Nope... I'm up near 300 FB friends.   Time to prune.

[Scouts Honor]

speaking of fake feeds

 

[Scouts Honor]

more fake feed