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David Perlmutter's avatar

Much of this behavior by Meta et al. is similar to that of the big business moguls of the early 20th century, who were repeatedly called out by muckrakers for enriching themselves at the expense of the public good. The original antitrust legislation in the U.S. was designed to reign those people in, but those drafting and campaigning for that legislation could likely not have foreseen its usage on an unprecedented global scale.

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EyesOpen's avatar

Just bought the book Careless People. Thank you for alerting me to it.

And I have witnessed this happening:

"In April 2017, a confidential document is leaked that reveals Facebook is offering advertisers the opportunity to target thirteen-to-seventeen-year-olds across its platforms, including Instagram, during moments of psychological vulnerability when they feel “worthless,” “insecure,” “stressed,” “defeated,” “anxious,” “stupid,” “useless,” and “like a failure.” Or to target them when they’re worried about their bodies and thinking of losing weight. Basically, when a teen is in a fragile emotional state."

(Or the social media influencers encourage blaming the body for any and all problems. They tell kids that if they are uncomfortable with their bodies, that means they are trans and born in the wrong body. Therefore, they must immediately take cross sex hormones and schedule irreversible surgeries. "Affirmation only" and no addressing, treating or healing underlying comorbidities allowed.)

The number of our kids who have been harmed by unchecked social media influencers, who are "careless", is beyond counting. It must stop.

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