# Can we figure out how many people Facebook is responsible for killing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354 "2020-04-22T16:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/1 "2020-04-22T16:01:39Z")
Is it possible to arrive at a justifiable number of people dead as a result of Facebook existing? For example, this Anti-vax nonsense seems to be spread and fueled by Facebook groups, allowing the dangerous mindset to take hold deeper, and spread faster, than without the network. How many more deaths, then, because of Facebook? Looking for numbers or approximations that are easily recognized as clearly a consequence of the existence of Facebook. If there are multiple steps with unclear correlation, then let’s leave it out. For example: Facebook made it possible for widespread foreign intervention in US elections, making it responsible for Trump to get elected, which in turn meant changes to the education people get in K-12, Which in turn means poorer diet choices of those students in the future, leading to more deaths of diabetes - that would be to far removed, and the correlation too difficult to specify for the cascade of factors. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/2 "2020-04-22T16:02:45Z")
If there was no Facebook,wouldn’t MySpace be the one responsible for all those deaths? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/3 "2020-04-22T16:04:38Z")
Facebook is a tool. If it weren’t for FB these groups would be using some other app, program, or communications mechanism for spreading misinformation. It’s not like this wasn’t happening before FB or the internet. Certainly, some bad things are being conducted on FB but so are many good things. Bottom line, I don’t think it’s possible because I don’t believe the premise of the question. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/4 "2020-04-22T16:08:01Z")
Here’s a thought for you: Facebook is people. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/5 "2020-04-22T16:09:48Z")
12 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/6 "2020-04-22T16:16:22Z")
And let’s not forget the quiet heroism of all the minor antivax blogs and forums, saving lives by being less popular than Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/7 "2020-04-22T16:21:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Facebook is a tool. If it weren’t for FB these groups would be using some other app, program, or communications mechanism for spreading misinformation. It’s not like this wasn’t happening before FB or the internet. Certainly, some bad things are being conducted on FB but so are many good things. > > Bottom line, I don’t think it’s possible because I don’t believe the premise of the question. If you ask me, all this shit started with the printing press. The devil’s tool, I tells ya. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/8 "2020-04-22T16:31:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Here’s a thought for you: Facebook is people. 😕 I thought soylent green was people? ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/9 "2020-04-22T16:50:16Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > Is it possible to arrive at a justifiable number of people dead as a result of Facebook existing? Yes I suspect there are statisticians who could do this. The people who need to be impressed by that number would not believe it however. Fake news, media bias, yadda yadda yadda. The latest? I wish they’d do a followup on these people in a month or so. You’ve possibly seen it— Jesus’s blood. [https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/04/04/ohio-church-service-covid-19-pandemic-tuchman-pkg-ac360-vpx.cnn](https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/04/04/ohio-church-service-covid-19-pandemic-tuchman-pkg-ac360-vpx.cnn) If they survive, they can say they were right. If they’re wrong, it’s a good thing they got to church before dying. Seems like they’d get a good turnout at the funeral, too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/10 "2020-04-22T16:53:14Z")
Why don’t we just ask Facebook? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/11 "2020-04-22T17:01:12Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s fewer than the Clintons. …_runs away._ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/12 "2020-04-22T17:04:19Z")
You might as well ask how many people are dead because telephones allow dangerous misinformation to spread more quickly. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/13 "2020-04-22T17:26:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😕 I thought soylent green was people? People are multi-use tools. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/14 "2020-04-22T17:31:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You might as well ask how many people are dead because telephones allow dangerous misinformation to spread more quickly. Well, my question was prompted by the fact that excessively stupid ideas seem to be so very wide-spread now. I understand that in part this may just be perception bias - I notice it more because it is reported more. But it also seems to feed on itself: it is, if you will, more organized- and much of that organization seems to be through Facebook. Not sure the telephone would have been as useful in this. Anyway, clearly the TM disagree, so never mind. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/15 "2020-04-22T18:02:51Z")
Is this a serious question? Sounds more like a Facebook is the evil and boomers get fake news and Zuckerberg is a very bad person rant. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/16 "2020-04-22T18:26:59Z")
A pretty good definition of the human evolutionary niche is that we’re the supreme cooperators. We’re the most intelligent species, sure; but the reason that we totally dominate the world is that we’re extremely good at working together cooperatively to achieve vastly more than we could achieve individually. As you say (OP), it’s easy to forget this through reporting bias - what’s “news” is not the normal state of affairs of phenomenally well organized and efficient cooperation among vast numbers of people; it’s the atypical occasions when this cooperation breaks down. Every stage of improvement in the efficiency of human communication since the evolution of language has been a huge net positive for humanity, since it allows us to cooperate more effectively. Obviously it also allows more efficient cooperation among bad actors, and any medium that facilitates the dissemination of good ideas also facilitates the dissemination of bad ideas. But it also makes it much more difficult for bad actors to get away with evil when information about their activities is widely and publicly disseminated. And you might as well say that all forms of human communication are a bad thing because without them we couldn’t develop the levels of technology and organization to conduct global warfare. Was life better for our hominid ancestors before the evolution of language? I guess in those days we were all on a paleo diet and Big Pharma wasn’t conspiring against us. So is there some reason why you think the Facebook medium is some kind of inherently corrupting exception, and not just part of the most recent phase of improvement in human communication? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/17 "2020-04-22T18:58:49Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > Well, my question was prompted by the fact that excessively stupid ideas seem to be so very wide-spread now. They may be, but I think it’s just more that you are capable of seeing more people talking excessively stupidly. Any actual increase in stupid beliefs certainly predates Facebook; anyone who’s been on the boards as long as you should remember the 5-plus years of morons with “9/11 was an inside job!” theories. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/18 "2020-04-22T21:08:53Z")
This reminds me of all the people who claim Twitter is literally the worst invention of the past 20 years ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/19 "2020-04-22T21:51:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why don’t we just ask Facebook? I asked google and it seems like this question has been asked a lot. Most articles and answers deal with cyber bullying and not misinformation. > [@dalej42](#): > > Is this a serious question? Sounds more like a Facebook is the evil and boomers get fake news and Zuckerberg is a very bad person rant. Are you sure he’s a person? I’m halfway convinced he’s an alien/cyborg hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354/20 "2020-04-22T21:55:17Z")
If this is a legitimate question, then so is the question of how many lives Facebook has saved. Surely, some people have done the right thing, or refrained from doing the wrong thing, because of information, arguments, links, and/or peer pressure they’ve seen on Facebook. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-figure-out-how-many-people-facebook-is-responsible-for-killing/852354.md?page=2)