Check this out:

Facebook Tinkers With Users’ Emotions in News Feed Experiment, Stirring Outcry

But last week, Facebook revealed that it had manipulated the news feeds of over half a million randomly selected users to change the number of positive and negative posts they saw. It was part of a psychological study to examine how emotions can be spread on social media.

The company says users consent to this kind of manipulation when they agree to its terms of service. But in the quick judgment of the Internet, that argument was not universally accepted.

“I wonder if Facebook KILLED anyone with their emotion manipulation stunt. At their scale and with depressed people out there, it’s possible,” the privacy activist Lauren Weinstein wrote in a Twitter post.

https://nytimes.com/2014/06/30/technology/facebook-tinkers-with-users-emotions-in-news-feed-experiment-stirring-outcry.html?referer=

For those who still are on Facebook watch the documentary Facebookistan available on Vimeo (password: facebookistan) and read the article Reasons not to use Facebook. It is also important to get your friends off of Facebook. Read and send them this excellent article Get your loved ones off Facebook

Remember that staying on Facebook, you’re granting them permission to collect and use information about you, regardless of you even using the Internet. And by staying on, the data they collect on you gets used to create models about your closest friends and family, even the ones who opted out.

To get over Facebook visit http://deletefacebook.com

To get over Instagram visit http://www.deleteinstagram.com

Pretty sure Yahoo.com is doing this now too. Years ago I could browse their news site and it was fine. But the last couple of years almost all I see are the most horrific, disturbing headlines that are usually so messed up I question if any of them are actually real. But it's so blatant it definitely is being used as a tool to depress the fuck out of it's readers. To what end, I have no idea.

Such news is what gets the most shares to other sites, probably.

"If it bleeds it leads" has always been a publisher maxim.

Like anything, if it benefits you, stick with it, but if it's working to your detriment, maybe look to make adjustments.

I've been off Facebook since 2013 and don't feel as though I'm missing out in any way. Everyone I'd want to speak with has my number and knows they can call any time.

I had a Facebook account for 2 years back in 2005. I realized back then how dangerous it was and got off of it. I laugh at all my friends who participate in it. It's like these people get so wrapped up in Facebook they don't even know what real life is anymore it's really pathetic and getting kind of old

Moved away from my hometown last year, got rid of my TV and facebook. Best decisions I've ever made, I just feel like every screen is a branch of MK Ultra at this point, and corporations and the government use it as such.

Reddit isn't a screen?

Yep, day 2 Facebook free, i can honestly say being a smoker i have about the dame cravings to open Facebook and post. Its a strange feeling when i pick up my phobe 1st thought is Facebook, and my "friends" as well as contests and give aways. I hope the cravings go away soon.

I completely agree. When my depression was at its worst facebook was not helping. I completely deleted my profile and I have never been better. I don’t miss it and it was like a chain being lifted.

I thought leaving Facebook was just part of growing up. I go on Facebook maybe twice a year. I didn't make any conscious decision to do so, it just lost all appeal during the election

I haven't deleted it yet, but maybe someday. It helps me stay in touch with family across the country

I thought leaving Facebook was just part of growing up.

It is. We live among children in adult form.

I haven't used FB for around 5 years now. Feels good man, however I'm an intensely private person so I was never much of a fan anyway.

People mostly share things on FB to appear like they've got it all together, when they're lives consist of television for the most part. Then there's the people lurk there who don't realize this, they start to look at their own lives as boring in comparison and start to get depressed. Add in the addictive nature of FB and its a vicious circle.

I got on for about 3 months about 6 years ago. It was such an unnatural social situation that it freaked me out. People from high school, college and other places that I barely knew or let go of because I didn't really care to keep up the relationship (how real life works) were coming out of the blue asking to be my friend. I didn't want to be their friends, but feared revenge and other social repercussions, so I'd friend them. It was stressful. Add on to that all the posts revealing their dirty laundry, politics, and pics of their kids which shouldn't be posted where anyone could download and do what they wanted with them (including Facebook for ads), and the stress went even higher. Then I understood what Facebook was--a data collection ruse--and got fed up with their changing settings without warning, I eventually reached a point where I said to myself, "what the hell am I doing? I don't need this in my life."

I deleted my FB. Funny thing, I got emails from people asking what was wrong and if I was okay. That freaked me out. It was like I left Scientology or the Amish or something.

After that, the only site I deal with is Reddit. I can be anonymous, block messages, delete accounts easily and start another if I wish, and hang out where I find it's most fun. No stress. I realize that Reddit is gathering info on my IP as well, and probably know who I am, but it doesn't feel "evil" just yet.

I believe Facebook is run by a psychopath who just wants power in the long run. No better way to get powerful than to gather personal and psychological information on people who willingly give it over. FBI director, Hoover knew that. He had a lot of power due to all the information he gathered on politicians. Facebook knows your name, your friends, your mistresses, how you think, your skills (monitored from games), and so much more. Info is power.

I hate social media man, it went from being a bit of fun to a huge stalking platform. Most employers search for your facebook profile before hiring you, if you dont have one they find it strange. To me its just an attention seeking ego boosting mechanism that people find addictive because they're not fulfilled with their real lives. I'm guilty as charged for being hooked on it for years but thankfully deactivated it about 8 months ago. Only thing I miss is creating/being invited to parties and events.

Best decision ever to get off social media, I was done with Facebook/ social media platforms when I only saw combative post and never saw my own husbands. And someone screamed my IG name at me while driving by (decently private, no actual pictures of me) ... I got sucked in for a little, I spent more time thinking about posting crap than actually doing crap. Keeping up with virtual jones is a pretty scary concept.

The hardest thing to do is get other people off and see how unhappy it makes them. They don't wanna give it up, as they state at it lifelessly. I have a gf whose obsessed with snapchat, if we hang out all she does is stare at her phone looking at the trash on Facebook and takes 10000000 pictures just to say they all look bad. Drives me nuts. Ill look at her, say, "dude your not even enjoying yourself", without looking up, "so?".

I know I'm getting old when I read that guys now call their girlfriend "dude"...and greet them with "hey guys". Wtf people?

I'm a female? Am I supposed to say, "hey bitch..."? Lol

Wut? How about call them what they are, like "hey ladies" or "hey girls". If some guy comes in a room full of males and salutes "hey gals", you think that is gonna pass?

I'm old, and calling your girlfriend "dude" and greeting girls with "hey guys" just sounds gay. Wtf, ya'll learn this on Facebook? Shut that shit down!

I think you're taking the term dude a little to literal. Dude at this point is genderless. She ain't no lady 😂

If she ain't a lady, then call her a "bitch" or "ho", but she can't be a "bastard" anymore than she can be a "dude", I mean, unless she had a sex change operation. Sayin' that it's genderless at this point may be correct, but that don't make it right.

You're real old school, I can respect that. Tis what it tis.

Dude is mostly a verbal filler in actual conversation. I can't remember the last time I heard someone use dudes to specify a group of males. Addressing someone as dude just adds emphasis more than anything.

welcome to the wonderful world of the evolution of language

I tend to agree with everything you've said here. I greatly dislike FB, but I still hop on every 3 days or so b/c people have tagged me and I get an email. For very casual usage, like planning to go to an event with friends, it seems fine. But I've seen people become very addicted. Same goes for Twitter, Instagram, etc. Sometimes you want to shake people and say "HEY - we're here together in real life right now having a nice meal! Let's BE here."

Anyway, one point I saw in the Atlantic article seems to be the opposite of what you were saying however.

in fact, the same people who posted couple-y items more frequently also tended to be more satisfied with their partners than those who did not.

Anecdotally, I've noticed the opposite though.

You can edit your settings so people can't tag you at all or it has you confirm the tag before it's posted. You can also opt out of emails from them.

Stop using facebook if you value your privacy and mental health.

Facebook was fuel to the fire of my anxiety and also made me tad paranoid. It's crazy to think how connected people are with people that don't really know. It's also fucked up that people think you're the strange one for not using fb. It's a strange social experiment that's gotten to pit of hand, and one time I thought it was a fad and would eventually fade away but that seems not to be the case. I also hate the people who scream government spying but actively use FB. It's past time to give it up!

The internet is getting worse by the day...

And yet here you are.

I'm 2 years clean this month. Life is better when you're not comparing yourself to others.

Yeah well I've been clean for longer than you so nyah.

Just kidding. Good work.

I used to log on multiple times a day, would post things, comment, Like, etc. I gave it up for Lent this year; was never tempted to look at it in the whole 40 day period, and rarely get back on even now.

I have been trying to put down this fucking phone, and get off of Facebook-Reddit-Facebook-repeat for the last hour. Thank you for giving me the kick in the pants I need. And shit yes it makes my depression worse. Later conspiracy friends. (Question Vegas!!!) 😉

To be fair, Instagram is worse for depression.

And Facebook owns IG, right? They're fucking with us in so many ways.

I think they do. Instagram is cancer man I keep seeing these hot women I wanna fuck but I can’t and it’s making me depressed

Yeah so many hotties... my couch cushions have been taking a beating.

Left my facebook about a year ago. Haven't even had the urge to go back to using it. Email and other means of communication have been working just fine.

Facebook is essentially everyone's "highlight reel".

So if you're comparing your real life, with all it's struggles, fears, doubts, insecure thoughts, boring moments, etc to someone who's posting vacation pics, sports pics and all that then yeah, it's easy to see how it can get depressing as fuck.

As they say in AA "Don't compare your insides to someone else's outsides". In other words, don't compare your feelings about yourself to what you see others doing.

I thought about doing this with Twitter.... only problem is I still want to be informed on what is happening.

Don't you think the same basic dopamine theory applies to reddit? (waits for dopamine-inducing up votes or adrenaline from a good comments fight)

Good job! Been off for at least 6 months myself, and everyone said "Ohhh you'll be back!" but I can't even understand what the appeal was anymore. Definitely will never go back.

facebook zionist shills try dragging you into depressive conflicting conversations and their media provides only bias views towards a more disappointing future.

good luck :)

and now they are rolling out a special version of FB just for kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxVZYiJKl1Y Made me think about this video from 3 years ago.

Just stay away from the brain cancer that is Facebook

Or if you use it, just be aware that it is potentially manipulating you. Thanks for this though. I still use it because it keeps me connected to people who I might otherwise not have connections too. But also, I'm violently aware that they might be manipulating me. Some of my "best" posts are ignored, while my stupid ones receive attention. Real life connections are so much better. FB does help us stay in touch though.

There's really no excuse that Facebook is the only way to stay in touch with someone that is worth associating with.

True. But it can be helpful to message someone for their phone number/ contact info.

I couldnt agree more. I've been clean now for about half a year and never felt better. Id mainly get upset after posting some thought provoking subject matter and get nothing. Its true, facebook is fucking depressing and it really id like being set free when you're rid of it.

Haven't been on Facebook in 3 years... best decision I could have made.

I think its awesome, I had sex because of it. It's weird the people who leave it want everyone else too. I don't try to get people to join because I don't care what you do. I don't care about likes. I would have lost contact with 95 percent of my old high school friends without it. Most people have a different phone number and address than they did 25 years ago its easy to lose contact. Yeah keep in "real" contact with your top 5 friends but the 50 that made up your greater circle would be almost impossible to find without it. I moved a thousand miles away its really easy to lose touch. Also its less awkward than asking people for their number, I start all new friendships with a FB add. I wouldn't want all those people having my number. It's improved my social life not hurt it.

Social media sucks and makes your life suck!

-People typing on a social media site

Been off Facebook for around 5 years now and everyone thinks I'm like a crazy hermit or something. It's ridiculous

Such news is what gets the most shares to other sites, probably.

"If it bleeds it leads" has always been a publisher maxim.