Brutkey

"Miss Movie Masochist"
@socketwench@masto.hackers.town

Having been around since LiveJournal, this isn't surprising at all:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/study-social-media-probably-cant-be-fixed/

"Miss Movie Masochist"
@socketwench@masto.hackers.town

A few points:

Yes, this study did you AI agents. That can cast some doubt on the results as AIs aren't humans, but that does mitigate some of the ethical issues these kind of studies usually entail (yes, I'm looking at YOU U of M.)

The study is trying to foster "non-partisanship" and "democracy", which...is not what a lot of people use social media for?

The study also doesn't factor in minorities or baseline societal bigotry. Another reason many turn to social media instead.

"Miss Movie Masochist"
@socketwench@masto.hackers.town

I wouldn't say this study is "bad". It certainly is interesting and feels it has a mark of truth on it from my experience.

No network I've been on, LiveJournal, MySpace, Facebook, Pownce, Twitter, Fedi, BlueSky is free of these issues.

None. Of. Them.

They all end up replicating the same social patterns no matter how we try to tech the social dynamics away.

"Miss Movie Masochist"
@socketwench@masto.hackers.town

So, when the kids up and split for the next network saying, "it doesn't have any of those problems!"

Oh, yes it does. The "New Relationship Energy" hasn't worn off yet.

Just wait. The shit will come. It always does; the tech won't solve it.

UnlikelyLass
@Unlikelylass@mspsocial.net

@socketwench@masto.hackers.town This is REALLY reminding me of this meme...