> https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/27/meta-s...
> That $18bn is certainly more than most companies could pay, but it pales in comparison with the $1.5tn Meta’s own PR team warned the case could cost it had it gone through the courts – and the more realistic $200bn the prosecuting lawyers sought to squeeze from the firm.
The consensus opinion was that the case would have cost them a lot more if it hadn't settled. Truly, the outcome couldn't have been more favorable to Meta. "Reckoning" -- yeah, right.
Think back to anything you can speak to with some authority, personally or professionally. Think of the last time a reporter actually got it right. It does happen, and there are a few good journalists still out there who care about getting the facts and the issues right. But it's buried under a pile of ignorant rage-baiting slop.
What would justice look like for someone responsible for building something so detrimental to society? What of the employees?
On paper. In practice... especially in rural areas not filled to the brim with busybodies, enforcement is spotty or limited to excessive, inappropriate morons.
Please expand on this, cause holy fuck couldn't it less apply to my experience educating - then raising my own - kids.
Meta is pushing forward every measure it can to record precise identity, age, and income with everything that you do.
They're the ones behind the push for internet porn ID laws.
They're the ones behind the push for device attestation.
They're the ones behind the push for social media ID requirements.
They make more money, we lose freedom and privacy and sleep closer and closer to 1984.
One day the state will punish us for our ideas and associations. They already do to an extent, but it's going to get unbearable once the machinery is in place.
Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists - everyone should oppose this.
dmix•1h ago
downrightmike•57m ago
ares623•55m ago
mschuster91•50m ago
That's also the reason why so many people don't have children any more, or only later in their life when they are economically settled.
winrid•45m ago
dmix•44m ago
ytoawwhra92•26m ago
Most of them don't work as advertised.
> Parental monitoring and controlling usage on sites like Youtube and Facebook is a long solved problem, if the parent put any basic effort in.
How old are your kids?
trhway•35m ago
Both parents working actually i think is a net-good thing - it teaches children to be responsible from early age. As my parents were both working - USSR - even when i was 5 years old i was already watching my 1 year old sister. And we were pretty typical at that.
wpietri•19m ago
If we're going to promote a policy of personal responsibility, let's at least look at all the persons involved.
rimeice•52m ago
dmix•46m ago
pibaker•14m ago
bossyTeacher•41m ago
Arainach•28m ago
Not as much as most people think.
A huge percentage of the physical world runs through these platforms - and if you add Twitter it gets even worse.
Plenty of groups I follow communicate exclusively through social media channels. If you want to know what events are happening there - in some cases even what hours they're open - it's through Facebook or Instagram.
For things which aren't formal businesses (photo clubs, bar popups, all sorts of things) it's even more prevalent.
Sure, if I want to sit in my house and discuss philosphy on Hacker News or IRC those exist, but it is very difficult to avoid Meta's platforms and have a social life - much less a dating life.
polyomino•15m ago
ChrisMarshallNY•12m ago
To many people, the Internet is Facebook.
Back in the day, the same people considered AOL to be the Internet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbyYGrswtg