Many people left Meta after Zuckerberg's changes, but user numbers have rebounded

[midian182]

A hot potato: Meta and Mark Zuckerberg have been through a lot of changes this month, many of which have upset some people. Removing fact-checkers, allowing users to say pretty much anything, and killing diversity programs led to calls for a boycott of Meta platforms. It doesn't appear to have much of an effect on its user numbers, though things might have been different had TikTok's future been more certain.

Earlier this month, Zuckerberg signaled that he wanted Meta to be more like X by removing "politically biased" third-party fact checkers in favor of community notes and focusing on free speech and political discourse. The company is also killing its DEI programs.

Some users of Meta's platforms deleted their accounts in protest at the new policies. There were also calls for a boycott from R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe, who urged people to log out of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Messenger, WhatsApp, Giphy, Meta Quest, and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for a week as part of a campaign called "Lights Out Meta."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Michael Stipe (@michaelstipe)

As noted by Business Insider, several analytics firms reported a slight decline in engagement among Meta users following the announcement of the changes. However, news of TikTok's impending ban sent many of ByteDance's users over to its rival's platforms. Facebook's number of Daily Active Users (DAUs) had been down 2% for most of January, according to Apptopia, but it began showing year-on-year growth ahead of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the TikTok ban.

Engagement on Meta's platforms has now returned to the same level it was before Zuckerberg's announcement. Instagram, which has a user demographic closer to TikTok's, saw an even more impressive rebound in DAUs than Facebook. Instagram also has the advantage of Reels, a short-form video platform that has attracted many former TikTokers.

It's not just new users that Meta might be thanking TikTok for. If TikTok does disappear from the United States completely – the app is working but still not available to download from US app stores – it's estimated that Meta could bring in up to $3.37 billion from newly available ad revenue.

A recent survey of 1,346 Americans by CivicScience found that 36% of participants supported Meta's changes while 32% opposed them and 32% were neutral. GenZ users aged 18-24 were the biggest supporters, with just over half supporting the moves.

It was reported earlier today that many people are selling phones with TikTok installed on eBay in the wildly optimistic hope of making thousands of dollars.

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Many people left Meta after Zuckerberg's changes, but user numbers have rebounded

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Generally unsurprising. People leave social media and suddenly have nothing to do with their hands, no hobbies, no pass times outside of doom scrolling (thanks to already being social media addicts) and their willpower breaks down and they come crawling back.

The human animal wasn't meant to live like this.

Best thing that ever happened to me was getting permabanned from Reddit. Decided to pick up and learn how to play guitar with all the free time I had, much more rewarding activity.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I'm actually glad when people try these large scale bans and boycotts because it is a good reality check for them that most people don't care about their pet issue or beef.

 

[RudyBob]

It's a start. Did you see Zuck looking at Bezo's GF boobies at the inauguration? He appreciated the show. I worry that Zuck will change back or try to change conservatism.

 

[MasterMace]

ZuckBot has already put out there that Meta is padding its DAU numbers with Fake Bot Accounts, so these numbers are meaningless.

 

[psycros]

Weird how fact checking was great and wonderful when his chosen team was on top. Now that the piper has to be paid for election interference Zuckerberg and the rest of the propagandists can't wait to kiss daddy Trump's ring.

 

[scoffer]

I'm actually glad when people try these large scale bans and boycotts because it is a good reality check for them that most people don't care about their pet issue or beef.

Yeah...........the so-called "liberals" and their cancel-culture. LOL..........Wankers.

 

[scoffer]

It's a start. Did you see Zuck looking at Bezo's GF boobies at the inauguration? He appreciated the show. I worry that Zuck will change back or try to change conservatism.

Never seen so much silicon used outside the construction industry...........

 

[Underdog]

I've seen much nicer use of silicone.

 

[pnntmp]

Many left but the numbers remained unchanged ... totally logical, for sure.

It's like when so many people threatened (not quite clear who exactly) to leave the US if Trump wins, but shockingly all of them are still here. To everyone's disappointment, I might add.

The truth is, many people felt obliged to dislike removing censorship, although in fact they liked it.

 

[Volleyball Face]

Zuckerberg when starting Facebook texted a friend, "Yeah, so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard, just ask me. I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS."

In response, a friend inquired, "What? How did you manage to obtain all that?"

To which Zuckerberg callously replied, "People just submitted it. I don't know why they 'trust me.' Dumb f*cks."

~ "Business Today" website

 

[Loadedaxe]

Tech news at its finest.

 

[toooooot]

Zuckerberg when starting Facebook texted a friend, "Yeah, so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard, just ask me. I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS."

In response, a friend inquired, "What? How did you manage to obtain all that?"

To which Zuckerberg callously replied, "People just submitted it. I don't know why they 'trust me.' Dumb f*cks."

~ "Business Today" website

Clueless people are unaware that civilized world exists, rests on trust. Mutual trust. If people started trying to scam each other on a massive scale, there would be no civilization.
Those few exploiting it or trying to exploit are like tiny parasites biting a tree branch they are on that if it falls down, their existence will end as well. Obviously, the branch is too thick for them to cause irreparable damage, which makes them think they are the smart ones and the rest are just dumb.
Idiocy, or rather a limited intelligence, nothing more.

 

[captaincranky]

I wonder how old Zuckie's doing with his yellow fever? I wonder if she's ready to be vaccinated against "toxic masculinity".

Did I say "vaccinated"? Whoops, I must be in the wrong thread.

 

[captaincranky]

Tech news at its finest.

I know right? It's shocking how many liberties we take with respect to topical conformity.

As a matter of fact, we were rudely called "nobodies" for not strictly adhering to the "MrBeast" might takeover Tik-tok", thread. I'm certain that an in depth analysis of that specific revelation alone, could go on for at least three or four pages. But noooo, we had to spoil it.

 

[captaincranky]

.It's like when so many people threatened (not quite clear who exactly) to leave the US if Trump wins, but shockingly all of them are still here. To everyone's disappointment, I might add.

Have you taken a poll on that "everyone's disappointment" statistic you're bandying about? It seems rather broad, while being based on the opinion of only one person. Not scientific at all.

 

[captaincranky]

Never seen so much silicon used outside the construction industry...........

Nah, I think it's also used quite a bit in erotic stimulant toys as well.

Bezos is in for a rude awakening when those big bad girls head south. Meh, on second thought it probably won't matter. He'll just throw her away and buy a new one.

Although, one has to wonder how much it will cost him this time. His last wife is giving away all his money. That has to grate on his nerves, so he's overcompensating.

 

[captaincranky]

Clueless people are unaware that civilized world exists, rests on trust. Mutual trust.

When trust fails, there's always hope to fall back on. For example, the light just turned green, and it's your time to go. Do you really trust that the guy coming from the other direction to the light will stop at the red light? Or are you really just hoping that he or she will?

If people started trying to scam each other on a massive scale, there would be no civilization.
Those few exploiting it or trying to exploit are like tiny parasites biting a tree branch they are on that if it falls down, their existence will end as well. Obviously, the branch is too thick for them to cause irreparable damage, which makes them think they are the smart ones and the rest are just dumb.
Idiocy, or rather a limited intelligence, nothing more.

Well, that's not entirely accurate. The majority of the trees needs are supplied by the latest growth ring, just under the bark. The branches internally are already "dead wood". So, the parasites don't have to chew that far to kill the branch, whether it falls down or not.

All these extended metaphors are causing my vertigo to act up. I feel like I might fall off the branch, without the actions of others.

Trust, at its core, is way overrated. Say nothing, admit nothing, trust no one, then ask for a lawyer.

 

[toooooot]

When trust fails, there's always hope to fall back on. For example, the light just turned green, and it's your time to go. Do you really trust that the guy coming from the other direction to the light will stop at the red light? Or are you really just hoping that he or she will?

Well, that's not entirely accurate. The majority of the trees needs are supplied by the latest growth ring, just under the bark. The branches internally are already "dead wood". So, the parasites don't have to chew that far to kill the branch, whether it falls down or not.

All these extended metaphors are causing my vertigo to act up. I feel like I might fall off the branch, without the actions of others.

Trust, at its core, is way overrated. Say nothing, admit nothing, trust no one, then ask for a lawyer.

Major of commercial contracts in developed countries are respected by both sides, most people pay for their services. Commerce cannot exist without mutual trust. To say trust is overvalued is like insisting third world lives a great life.
Trust, respect, law/trust in law. These things are the core of a successful society.
Which was not my main point anyways. The main opinion I made was that people who make fun of people who trust them are not that smart. They are, at the end of the day, still malicious virus that depending on its size does more or less damage to a healthy parts of body.

 

[captaincranky]

Major of commercial contracts in developed countries are respected by both sides, most people pay for their services. Commerce cannot exist without mutual trust. To say trust is overvalued is like insisting third world lives a great life.
Trust, respect, law/trust in law. These things are the core of a successful society.
Which was not my main point anyways. The main opinion I made was that people who make fun of people who trust them are not that smart. They are, at the end of the day, still malicious virus that depending on its size does more or less damage to a healthy parts of body.

My comment as to "trust being overvalued", was aimed at the P2P level, not corporate or government entities. Which is why I gave the, "will he or won't he stop at the red light" analog. The intent was to say, "my secrets are mine, your secrets are yours", and never the twain shall meet. I have no intention of sharing my deepest, darkest, on Facebook. However, whenever you get behind the wheel, faith and hope do have parts to play in the experience, not just trust.

However, at the corporate level, should I trust Google not to sell my browsing history? Hell no. I do trust them to deliver my email without tampering with it, or allowing its employees to pass it around the office water cooler yes, mostly. Ergo trust, out of necessity, becomes provisional and conditional.

(Not that there's anything in my email terribly interesting, lurid, or scandalous, to begin with).

I have a lowly solo semester of sociology under my belt, so I do understand the mechanics of the point you're trying to get across.

Was that response coherent? Did it clarify my viewpoint? Let me know.

 

[mailpup]

Back on topic please. Thanks.

 

[captaincranky]

Back on topic please. Thanks.

Here ya go:
Comparing this with the concurrent thread about Democratic hashtags being ignored, unwanted subscriptions to our current president's feed being forced on users, and the lifting of any semblance of censorship, would make me think that a "wannabe dictator has gotten into the wood pile", over there at Meta.

I'm sure you're old enough to remember the original version of that paraphrase.

 

[Later]

No offence but those glasses are ugly, and on the robot's face, they are even uglier.