25 votes

Facebook to buy Giphy for $400 million

6 comments

  1. [4]
    annadane
    Link
    Quite extraordinary. They'll stop at nothing to crush their competition. Giphy is reportedly used by Signal and TikTok. This seems like a pure power grab. See also https://overcast.fm/+QLdurp-A8...

    Quite extraordinary. They'll stop at nothing to crush their competition. Giphy is reportedly used by Signal and TikTok. This seems like a pure power grab. See also https://overcast.fm/+QLdurp-A8 for how Facebook treats their competitors.

    12 votes
    1. [2]
      onyxleopard
      Link Parent
      There are also Giphy extensions for Slack, Discord, etc. This kind of acquisition is cancerous, and really highlights the insidious downsides of proprietary software and services. Not that Slack...

      There are also Giphy extensions for Slack, Discord, etc. This kind of acquisition is cancerous, and really highlights the insidious downsides of proprietary software and services. Not that Slack and Discord are necessarily more worthy of trust than Facebook, but the fact that Facebook can now retroactively go track anybody who used those extensions is nauseating.

      12 votes
      1. Shahriar
        Link Parent
        Huh, never thought of that. Not is it only annoying that Facebook is now part of many applications I use, the data before they even purchased Giphy is now available to them too.

        now retroactively go track anybody who used those extensions is nauseating.

        Huh, never thought of that. Not is it only annoying that Facebook is now part of many applications I use, the data before they even purchased Giphy is now available to them too.

        6 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. annadane
        Link Parent
        I really, genuinely think Zuckerberg is a sociopath. He needs to be tested by a psychologist.

        I really, genuinely think Zuckerberg is a sociopath. He needs to be tested by a psychologist.

        3 votes
  2. [2]
    scissortail
    Link
    Fucking hell. This is just an off-the-cuff idea and might be terrible, but would it be so bad to prohibit companies from buying other companies? Instead of selling companies, couldn't owners just...

    Fucking hell. This is just an off-the-cuff idea and might be terrible, but would it be so bad to prohibit companies from buying other companies? Instead of selling companies, couldn't owners just give control of it to their employees and maybe help them hire a new manager if necessary? I feel like the increasing consolidation/centralization of corporations (in many fields) leads mostly to more homogeneity, mediocrity, and consumer abuses.

    7 votes
    1. moonbathers
      Link Parent
      This is the sort of thing anti-trust legislation should be used for. Facebook should be separated into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.

      This is the sort of thing anti-trust legislation should be used for. Facebook should be separated into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.

      9 votes