On Tuesday, Facebook’s social-media network went away in the blink of an eye but that was the easy part to explain. Hours after its shares plunged amid whistleblower allegations of chasing profits at the expense of the public’s well-being, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg denied the allegations, saying they were “not at all true”. In an official post on his page, he said the company took an in-depth look at issues such as safety, wellness and mental health. “The argument that we intentionally advance content that offends people for profit is very illogical,” he argued.
This is unlikely to ease concerns over the nature of Facebook’s impact on the world. Whistleblower’s former employee argued that with a business model that deserves attention, it thrives on much of what constitutes a civil hazard and alleged that the algorithm’s settings at Facebook have been tampered with as such profit-maximizing. The loops were also changed to serve. By the argument that polarization is good for business, its moderation mechanism and oversight panel looks like cover for an enterprise thriving by divisive passion-provoking. With calls for regulation of social media gaining ground, Zuckerberg’s words alone will not work.
Don’t miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
.