G'day, I struggle to understand how people can be scammed on Facebook – but even more so, why the Albanese government is letting its parent company Meta run riot. Maybe because in my experience, ignorance is bliss. I can clearly remember when I deactivated my Facebook account in 2011. It was simple, a few clicks and after about four years or so on the platform, I was unplugged. Back then, my feed was filled with my friends and contacts posting about the holidays they were on or making other innocuous chatter like what they had for breakfast – and I was hooked. I’d post something and couldn’t help reaching for the app, wanting to know how many likes or comments my thought bubbles were attracting. I was addicted – and of course the platform is designed to keep giving you those dopamine hits. It was Christmas, 2010 when I realised the toxic grip it had on me. My cousin posted she was bored of our family gathering. I saw it and questioned her on it, in my typically cheeky manner. But my sense of humour wasn’t appreciated and a row ensued. Over one silly post... Read more from The Australian's Technology editor Jared Lynch on why he chose to give up on Meta's Facebook below. In other social media news, TikTok claims it added $1.1bn to the Australian economy in FY23. Its impact is one that can no longer be ignored, claims its Australian general manager. Here's how the Chinese-run platform came to that conclusion. Meanwhile, one of the world's largest manufacturers of eReaders has finally added some colour. But will that be enough to get more eyes on digital books? |