For example, would removing infinite scrolling help make it less addictive? Would you keep the upvote/downvote system, remove it, or classify posts differently to foster better discussions? How about adding a countdown timer to log the user out after a certain number of hours of use?

If psychological research can be used to keep users engaged on a social network for as long as possible, I believe it can also be applied to help prevent excessive use, improve the quality of discussions, and create a more empathetic environment. That’s why I’d love to hear suggestions from those in the field.

  • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    I was totally being idealist. The idea of a social media site where people just get along is totally idealist. I believe in politeness btw, i think that it’s how we get along without violence in our day to day lives. I think courtesy matters and the internet’s repudiation of common courtesy is spilling into real life and the knock out game will just expand… i believe in good manners. I get that i’m insane, but how else can we live with each other?

    What if the pretence of common courtesy is the norm that actually prevents mass violence? I could be wrong, but i genuinely believe it matters.

    • theotherben@lemmy.ml
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      8 hours ago

      OP is asking for practical suggestions, what you’re saying is all nice except practical.

      • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        So you’re saying it’s nice? I get that it’s impractical but that only hinges on popularity.

        • theotherben@lemmy.ml
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          8 hours ago

          Of course it’s nice, in general, you’re picturing a place where everyone gets along and tries to be thoughtful with no exceptions, but that’s just wishful thinking and some kind of utopia thinking.

          • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            Yep, i thought they were asking for ideas for better social media. The reality is that this will never happen. Humanity is terrible. I’m not joking. I was just trying to think about what might help. Noone would stay though, they’d find their safe space and eat their brand of shit.

            • theotherben@lemmy.ml
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              7 hours ago

              I think the most practical way of something like this is the Fediverse, it can be helpful to make this kind of thing you want, because I think one of the worst issues would be moderation. My thoughts: chunk of small social medias defederating from and to anywhere else but federate to each other, maybe like per neighborhood, so they could moderate in small communities better and properly distributed. Although then it’d maybe now a closed platform? Yeah… it’s not really practical.

              To clarify: by small community I mean a community under 100 members so it’s easier to be moderated and faster to react throughout.

              • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                Getting humans to play nice is not practical, that’s the bottom line. Getting humans to be logical and compassionate is also not practical. The whole notion of non toxic social media is a fools errand. We’re vicious and selfish and you can’t nudge that out of existence.

                • theotherben@lemmy.ml
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                  7 hours ago

                  We’re product of past generations and acting like we’re like 100 generations ahead where people might live closer to an utopia and knows better is just unrealistic. Misanthropy is not the answer nor helps.

                  • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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                    7 hours ago

                    You have an answer? Im pretty set on misanthropy. I thimk people do know better but they just don’t care. We all know about the holocaust but most people are fine with doing this to non jewish people. People aren’t going to change in 100 generations. We need to evolve into non humans and that would take many more than 100 generations.