Misinformation

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by blankall

X is complete nonsense right now. I get where Musk is coming from with freedom of speech, but his execution lacks any kind of basic rationality. You cannot allow a bots, trolls, grifters etc.. to have unlimited access to a format like X and expect it to hold any kind of integrity.

Musk is about as honest about his free speech platform as he is about FSD and his video game skills. The first mistake people make is believing him. Free speech to him means silencing people who are critical of him, and re-tweeting actual verifiable Nazis he let back no the platform.

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, suspended a number of high-profile journalists Tuesday, including Steven Zetti of the Texas Observer and Ken Klippenstein of the Intercept. The pages for each of the suspended accounts offers no explanation for their removal and does not say if the suspensions are temporary or permanent bans. Each page carries a short message that “X suspends accounts which violate the X rules.”

“If you are one of those people who actually believe that Elon Musk is a principled champion of free speech, then you maybe one of the dumbest people to have ever walked the earth,” said former MSNBC host Medhi Hasan on X, one of several high-profile journalists taking to the platform to accuse Musk of censorship.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoy...uspended-by-x/


But hey, he let child sex trafficker Andrew Tate back on, so freedom reigns.
And this doesn't even get into how he manipulated the platform to help Trump get elected.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Any time I've read about them showing up they get all butthurt and run back to X because people on Bluesky block them, and they don't think people should be blocking opinions they don't agree with, even if those opinions are Nazi adjacent. The users, however, value the choice in being able to silent racists, trolls, and sea-lions from their feeds. I guess some people value that stuff? I dunno, if my local mall had Nazis hanging out at the cafeteria, I'd be a bit annoyed they let Nazis in, and not hangout there. But that's me.

I mean when it was pre-Elon they were still there, they just tended to use more coded language. Now, it's just a free for all. Which is kind of nice in a way cause it makes it easier to block them cause I don't have to know their coded language.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Fuzz, try it out, search for AI and try to get real info on BlueSky. Why would I go on BlueSky for certain topics or interests when it's that heavily slanted?

What you are deciding is "slanted" is a result of the users on the platform, not the Bluesky search algorithm showing you what it decides you should see. There is not an algorithmic slant. It's a reflection of the community. You don't like the content, that's fine.


How about actually trying to use it in the manner it's designed? Follow some stuff you like for a few weeks, add and remove, see how it goes?


As Pepsi said, there are plenty of studies looking at these things. Seek those out if you care.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean when it was pre-Elon they were still there, they just tended to use more coded language. Now, it's just a free for all. Which is kind of nice in a way cause it makes it easier to block them cause I don't have to know their coded language.

A bunch were suspended for good reasons. He opened the doors and tossed out the welcome mat. Now they generate "creator revenue" for themselves, so Elon actually helps Nazis fund their hate-drives, and profits himself from it.


https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...itter-accounts

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Musk is about as honest about his free speech platform as he is about FSD and his video game skills. The first mistake people make is believing him. Free speech to him means silencing people who are critical of him, and re-tweeting actual verifiable Nazis he let back no the platform.




https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoy...uspended-by-x/


But hey, he let child sex trafficker Andrew Tate back on, so freedom reigns.
And this doesn't even get into how he manipulated the platform to help Trump get elected.

Fair enough. I haven't really been paying any attention to X basically since Musk took over. For me, it's as relevant as MySpace.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

A bunch were suspended for good reasons. He opened the doors and tossed out the welcome mat. Now they generate "creator revenue" for themselves, so Elon actually helps Nazis fund their hate-drives, and profits himself from it.


https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...itter-accounts

Yeah, and in typical Elon grifting the initial content payouts seemed like good money, and now its basically Spotify-level compensation where people chase 100 million views to earn $3.50. The content aggregators and the related that are one of the worst things about the platform, same 20-30 accounts recycling the same #### over and over. Animal and sport content is still good at least.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

If only scientists had ever thought to study these things. Then we wouldn’t have to rely on one guy’s 15 minute experiment.

Oh well. Guess we’ll never really know.

What do you want scientists to study ? That social media platforms use algorithms to drive traffic and engagement ? They have . And they do

Including Bluesky . They use different algorithms and "claim" they are better at presenting user choice then X vs a giant predetermined algorithm. But they still do use them. And they slant left off the beginning as that is their target audience

Or did you want them to “study” something else

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What you are deciding is "slanted" is a result of the users on the platform, not the Bluesky search algorithm showing you what it decides you should see. There is not an algorithmic slant. It's a reflection of the community. You don't like the content, that's fine.


How about actually trying to use it in the manner it's designed? Follow some stuff you like for a few weeks, add and remove, see how it goes?


As Pepsi said, there are plenty of studies looking at these things. Seek those out if you care.

So Bluesky isn't slanted because of the 'algorithm'.

Its slanted because of the users - who the algorithm uses to decide what to present to people - because there is still an algorithm presenting what to show you and keep you logged in!

So Bluesky is the very definition of an echo chamber I guess.

Sure users have more control of what they get presented then X - The algorithm will make sure they see exactly the messages they want to see and reinforce their beliefs!

Good for app engagement! Warm and fuzzy feelings when everyone agrees (and hates) the same things as you online!

Keeps you coming back for more of that sweet sweet reinforcement

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

What do you want scientists to study ? That social media platforms use algorithms to drive traffic and engagement ? They have . And they do

Including Bluesky . They use different algorithms and "claim" they are better at presenting user choice then X vs a giant predetermined algorithm. But they still do use them. And they slant left off the beginning as that is their target audience

Or did you want them to “study” something else

How is it you manage to continue to make stuff up so easily?


Again, any "left slant" you see is because that is the make up of the userbase that posts stuff. In order to show 50/50, they'd have to manipulate the algorithm to show a higher amount of right leaning posts, because there are fewer of them. They don't do that, so you don't see 50/50.


Is this, like, just too complicated for people to understand? I'm baffled at this point.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

What do you want scientists to study ? That social media platforms use algorithms to drive traffic and engagement ? They have . And they do

Including Bluesky . They use different algorithms and "claim" they are better at presenting user choice then X vs a giant predetermined algorithm. But they still do use them. And they slant left off the beginning as that is their target audience

Or did you want them to “study” something else

Oh really? I didn’t know scientists had studied these things. I thought we were the first ones to think of this.

[Fuzz]

In addition to promoting entertainment, X’s feed algorithm tends to push more conservative content to users’ feeds. Seven weeks of exposure to such content in 2023 shifted users’ political opinions in a more conservative direction, particularly with regard to policy priorities, perceptions of the criminal investigations into Trump and views on the war in Ukraine. The effect is asymmetric: switching the algorithm on influenced political views, but switching it off did not reverse users’ perspectives on policy priorities or current political issues.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10098-2


But maybe it's just the opposite of Bluesky. X is primarily far right bots, so even if the algorithm is neutral, users will see more far right propaganda.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Oh really? I didn’t know scientists had studied these things. I thought we were the first ones to think of this.

And what did they find ? Was it that Bluesky is the only social media company without misinformation ? Please tell me I need to be informed not misinformed !

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10098-2


But maybe it's just the opposite of Bluesky. X is primarily far right bots, so even if the algorithm is neutral, users will see more far right propaganda.

No one said or defended X. You brought up (laughably) Bluesky as a good source of non-misinformation unprompted to educate us all !

It’s just another example of social media engagement farming garbage . It’s just garbage that says what you personally like hearing and echoes and reinforces your personal thoughts an beliefs so you like it

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

How is it you manage to continue to make stuff up so easily?


Again, any "left slant" you see is because that is the make up of the userbase that posts stuff. In order to show 50/50, they'd have to manipulate the algorithm to show a higher amount of right leaning posts, because there are fewer of them. They don't do that, so you don't see 50/50.


Is this, like, just too complicated for people to understand? I'm baffled at this point.

You're going so hard after Jason14h yet you actually agree with him. You said the exact same thing as him regarding bias and slanting being inherently present because of the user base.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

So Bluesky isn't slanted because of the 'algorithm'.

Its slanted because of the users - who the algorithm uses to decide what to present to people - because there is still an algorithm presenting what to show you and keep you logged in!

So Bluesky is the very definition of an echo chamber I guess.

Sure users have more control of what they get presented then X - The algorithm will make sure they see exactly the messages they want to see and reinforce their beliefs!

Good for app engagement! Warm and fuzzy feelings when everyone agrees (and hates) the same things as you online!

Keeps you coming back for more of that sweet sweet reinforcement

[Fuzz]

I can't deal with the dumb anymore. This is just too thick to wade through any longer.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

And what did they find ? Was it that Bluesky is the only social media company without misinformation ? Please tell me I need to be informed not misinformed !

Bluesky is definitely not free from misinformation because Fuzz has been called out multiple times over the last year for sharing misinformation he found on Bluesky.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What you are deciding is "slanted" is a result of the users on the platform, not the Bluesky search algorithm showing you what it decides you should see. There is not an algorithmic slant. It's a reflection of the community. You don't like the content, that's fine.


How about actually trying to use it in the manner it's designed? Follow some stuff you like for a few weeks, add and remove, see how it goes?


As Pepsi said, there are plenty of studies looking at these things. Seek those out if you care.

What actual content are you seeing outside of politics (and the ever eternal Gaza-Israel conflict) that has worthwhile content where you can find info you want? How am I supposed to use it in the manner it's designed?

I mean genuinely. Normal everyday use.

I can see Steve "Dangle" Glynn is on there with a decent following.

Searching Flames just gets me Iran related videos...compared to it getting the actual team on X.

NHL Flames as an account has no posts. Flames nation has a small presence.

Searching Calgary Flames doesn't show there was every a game yesterday or really anything. But it will show a Calgary Flames makeup post at the top post. I mean ok? If I dig enough or follow specific accounts I can find the game info.

Searching hockey gets me a post from defector.com reporting breaking news about Kash Patel falling down while playing hockey. Um...ok? And what is the 'gay hockey show'? Again, no actual hockey news or posts.

Searching Baseball on BlueSky gets me a repost of Aaron Rupar (yet again), talking about Trump's stupid baseball hat. But there's more. It seems that the word baseball is very heated, but only in terms of Trump's baseball hat.

Not one.
Not twice
But dozens of times in a row without a single post talking about actual baseball.

Searching Baseball on X gets me USA vs Italy lineup for tonight, Highlights of the WBC games from multiple sources, etc.

Actual...baseball, not fringe political obsessions.

Want to learn about the stock market? Nope Aaron Rupar (again) has a post talking about CNBC and animal spirits (???). Another poster says release the epstein files. Again...nothing news related. But on the bright? side? BlueSky actually seems to be somehow better than X here. What a cluster#### of thrash (most are bashing Trump, not MAGA hand wavey posts). And yes, there is indeed a crypto post.

"Tech News"? Surely that is innocent enough to get normal stuff on BlueSky?

Screw Tesla 2nd post from @bcreality.bsky.social
3rd and 4th post ranting about AI
5th post about Epstein files

Tech News on X has Nvidia CEO interview, high-skilled tech worker news from CBS, .NET talking of a seminar.


Since both you and PepsiFree are such astute supporters of BlueSky and its value, why not provide it?

Does a normal person have a reason to use BlueSky other than Musk bad?

No wonder some folks are so easily persuaded by misinformation when even baseball is political there. I never realized how much of a dangerous mindless echo chamber that truly is. And this is on a fresh new account searching only normal stuff.

[The Fonz]

I don’t think there’s really anything else to show you on BlueHair - the users are largely only from that outer 15% of the political spectrum - the far left.

Twitter has the opposite 15% - the far right. But it’s also got the 70% in the middle.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I can't deal with the dumb anymore. This is just too thick to wade through any longer.

You have an unnatural affliction towards Bluesky . You should probably delete the app for a while

[Jason14h]

Some pretty bad misinformation by CNN today . Ooops

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5...or-attack/amp/