Rules for thee and not for me

If you are reading on a smartphone, use landscape / hold phone sideways. 

If you are a Star Trek fan, you know all about the Prime Directive. Also known as "Starfleet General Order 1" and the "non-interference directive" - it is the guiding principle of Starfleet that prohibits its members from interfering with the natural development of alien civilizations. It is supposed to protect unprepared civilizations from the dangerous tendency of well-intentioned starship crews to introduce advanced technology, knowledge, and values before they are ready. If you want to geek out, you can read all about it here. 

What about Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics?

First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 

Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. 

The original laws of robotics have been altered and elaborated by Asimov and others. In later science fiction where robots had taken responsibility for government of whole planets and human civilizations, Asimov also added a fourth, or zeroth law, to precede the others:

Zeroth Law: A robot may not harm humanity, or by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

The three laws, and the zeroth, have pervaded science fiction and are referred to in many books, films, and other media. They have affected thoughts on ethics of artificial intelligence as well. 

Where are you going with this, Tom?

Robots and artificial intelligences do not inherently contain or obey laws. Any laws. And we humans (aka Starfleet crews) much choose to program in such laws. The Prime Directive. Three Laws of Robotics. These rules (laws) only exist if and when HUMANS put them into place, and then continue to monitor their enforcement. You know, kinda how we humans all follow The Golden Rule all the time. Also this: for the first time ever, Facebook (Meta) is shrinking. 

Facebook's total number of users has declined - a first for the social media platform that has experienced seemingly never-ending growth since it debuted 17 years ago. 

Social Media and Technology companies (any/all) are now powered by AI, powered by algorithms. You know, Robots. 

Fictional TV / Movie series Star Trek saw it all coming for years. Asimov's Laws of Robotics were first introduced in his 1942 short story "Runaround" and in I, Robot. 

Land the plane, Tom.

Hey Mark, Hey Rupert, Hey Jeff, Hey (fill in name of greedy media technology bastard here) pay attention: 

The NEW Zeroth Law: Media and Technology companies powered by AI and algorithms and robots shall not harm humanity, or by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

Guys, you are not in compliance.