Facebook parent Meta Platforms on Monday threatened to remove news from its platform if the U.S. Congress passes a proposal aimed at making it easier for news organizations to negotiate collectively with companies like Alphabet's Google and Facebook.

Sources briefed on the matter said lawmakers are considering adding the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act to a must-pass annual defense bill as way to help the struggling local news industry.

Do you get your news from Facebook? Where do you usually get your news? Does this matter one way or another?

This is an op-ed written by Jeffrey A. Tucker from the Brownstone Institute Website. How many of you have experienced the same censorship of your posts depending I what you wrote? But this morning, a friend had a great idea. He suggested that I post a cute animal picture with no other comment other than to say it is a test. I did this very thing and posted the following picture. The results: an explosion of reach! Out of nowhere it was like the old Facebook, with comments and conversations and shares, plus many hundreds of likes. Absolutely amazing! At least for me, this test suggests something important. Zuckerberg is surely flagging accounts but the main means of control is content. Say something that means something and your post disappears from feeds. Post something stupid and irrelevant and you can have all the views you want. https://brownstone.org/articles/facebook-is-dead/

https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/01/12/not-just-misinformation-emails-white-house-facebook-admits-suppressing-often-true-content-covid-19-vaccines/

Metaverse off to ominous start after vr headset sales shrank in 2022

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/28/metaverse-off-to-ominous-start-after-vr-headset-sales-shrank-in-2022.html


“VR had an amazing holiday in 2021,” Arnold said, referring to various promotions that helped boost sales of the devices at a time when gaming consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 5 were in short supply. “It was a great time last year to get one of these products, and VR totally crushed it.”



What VR headset do you use? Have you tried the Metaverse?

Will the Metaverse be entertaining? Ask South Korea

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/will-the-metaverse-be-entertaining-ask-south-korea/ />

“There are a lot of people who want to get into the metaverse, but it hasn’t reached critical mass, users-wise, yet,” said Jung Yoon-hyuk, an associate professor at Korea University’s School of Media and Communication. “Other places want to venture into the metaverse, but to be successful, you need to have good content. In Korea, that content is K-pop.”




I think they have a long way to go!

Meta to layoff another 10000 more workers in their restructuring plan. They are apparently still very focused on their VR programs?

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/14/meta-layoffs-10000-more-workers-to-be-cut-in-restructuring.html />

“Here’s the timeline you should expect: over the next couple of months, org leaders will announce restructuring plans focused on flattening our orgs, canceling lower priority projects, and reducing our hiring rates,” Zuckerberg said in a message to employees, which was also posted to the technology company’s blog.

He added that the Facebook parent plans to close 5,000 additional open roles that it
hasn’t yet filled. In a nod to continued economic uncertainty, Zuckerberg noted that the company should prepare for “the possibility that this new economic reality will continue for many years.”

Fakebook, er a Facebook to block access to news if online News Act passes.


Canadians would no longer be able to access news on Facebook or Instagram if the federal government's proposed Online News Act passes in its current form, the parent company behind the two popular social media platforms said.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/meta-block-news-liberal-online-bill-1.6776485

Facebook is in trouble again with another lawsuit by 42 attorney generals of the United States. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/24/bipartisan-group-of-ags-sue-meta-for-addictive-features.html A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general is suing Meta,alleging that features on its Facebook and Instagram social media platforms are addictive and are aimed at kids and teens, the group announced Tuesday. The support from so many state attorneys general of different political backgrounds indicates a significant legal challenge to Meta’s business. Is anyone surprised at all? Here's the thing that I still don't get....there are thousands of great niche websites that accomplish so much more than facebook ever could. What I mean by that is niche websites are a smaller group of people that enjoy talking about a main topic, however, you can still talk about anything you want. You don't have to worry about moderators and admins getting into your private stuff, you don't have to worry about over moderation, you don't have to worry about blaring advertising.....the AI stuff, and algorithms that steer you to different content. I could go on and on...but there isn't anything that replaces the classic message board environment in the right setting for thoughtful discussions, a community vibe where members care about each other and the conversation is steered by members in the most organic way.

What's more concerning about this is government going after a business because people are so used to using it. Well, chocolate is addictive, sugar, fast food (especially those fries :P ) , etc. What's next? I am not fond of FB, I use it only to catch up on friends/family and sometimes to post for getting some traffic to my sites. Anything can be addictive.

I agree about niche sites. I hope they will become more popular. Then again, if they do, will we have to fear the govt stepping in and suing?

I get what you are saying, @Techi Jedi, same for me on FB. I wish friends "happy birthday" that is if I catch it. Most of my friends use FB as their announcement medium rather then the use of personal text messages if there was something new in their lives. If I want to find out anything, it will be on FB. Chocolate sounds good right now. I agree with your caveat, that niche websites stay off of the radar of governments. Niche websites are the best kept secret and hopefully people will find their way back to a positive experience in some awesome niche websites with their cup of coffee or tea in hand and settle in for some good reading and conversation with friends.