The article talks about popups and other notifications. I personally have been getting a bunch of emails about policy changes. I don't see how that's in any way "quietly".
But are those notifications and pop ups directly saying something like "from now on we will start to train ai on your information"?
Or is is one of the hundredth change of terms and conditions that people usually just skip, which mentions the major change in some fine print. Or a pop up designed with dark patterns to influence people into just accepting without actual informed consent?
Firefox 127 has introduced privacy tweaks that are causing user dissatisfaction, particularly due to changes like the separation of normal and private windows on the taskbar and the closing of private tabs when the main instance closes on iOS.
This sounds like it would be the expected behaviour?
Despite user complaints, the update includes new privacy and security enhancements such as upgrading subresources from HTTP to HTTPS and masking CPU architecture to reduce fingerprinting.
This sounds like a good thing?
Mozilla plans to address user feedback by reintroducing the "browser.privateWindowSeparation.enabled" preference as an opt-in and adding more intuitive privacy settings in future updates.
I don’t “like” that things have gotten this bad, but I do like that the worse things get, the more we can collectively organize and pressure reform to fix these things.
2️⃣ These tests are usually run on relatively small subsets of the user base. Remember when they rolled out hiding likes? That was rolled out periodically as well.
They typically also run different types of user bases. They already know the hardcore "influencers" and people who have built a public following will never leave the platform, since they're too invested already, and are the people/publications that contribute the most to network effects. I.e., you're on there because they're on there.
3️⃣ Remember when Tim Kendall (former executive at Facebook) says that they talked about Zuckerberg having ultimate control over these 3 distinct goals?
Engagement: Drive up your usage. Keep you scrolling, liking, commenting, and remaining active on the platform.
Growth: Encouraging you to keep coming back and inviting your friends, and getting them to invite their friends, and so on.
Advertising: Make sure that as growth and engagement are happening, advertising revenue is maximized.
That's what's happening here—this is dial #3 being turned up.
Solutions
1. The most obvious: Delete your account
I know, I know—network effects are tough to break.
Tell your friends and family to delete theirs. Make yourself unreachable on Facebook-owned platforms.
Most people are posting less as traditional posts, and more as stories. If stories is your thing, Signal has stories. This is a really secure, private, and still convenient way to share whatever you want throughout the day.
If your favorite restaurant changes your dish's recipe, you'd prolly stop going, right? Well, that recipe's been changing, and we continue to put up with it despite an increasingly worse product.
2. For those looking for an alternative: Use Pixelfed
It doesn't have nearly the same type of content or user base size that Instagram does. But the same way that we built Facebook little by little, the same can be done for healthier alternative platforms.
This might also help your reduction in using social media, if you're looking for that.
3. For those who can't/will never leave Instagram: Use an open source native mobile app (Android-specific)
If you have an Android-based mobile operating system, there are apps like MyInsta and Instander that give you a native Instagram experience while blocking all of the ads.
They also have app-specific settings that allow you to customize your Instagram experience even further, such as (but limited to):
Downloading photos/reels/entire carousels
Reduces data sent to Instagram (analytics, ads, and other requests)
Ghost mode
Block reels, posts, stories, explore, comments, or whatever else
Tons more
I run a basketball media outlet (InThePaintCrew) and a lifestyle/photography page (LifeViaChicago), and being able to modify the experience to remove the noise/clutter when a native Instagram app is needed is helpful.
I don't get it. I go to Instagram a couple of times a day. I start scrolling. The third post is something I haven't followed or liked. Then the fourth, and the fifth. So I close the app. I spend like 5 minuter there daily. The whole discover page is just filled with trash I have no interest for.
Sure I enjoy climbing. But I don't care for videos of people tying knots or lightly dressed chicks doing some low grade bouldering. Why does the app think it's better than me?
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