At CodigoDelSur, we have the habit of creating an exchange instance among our developers whenever a team completes a project or achieves an important goal.
Although it may surprise many, our Demo Days are not just an excuse to share coffee and eat sweets. Systematic exchange has become an essential axis for building a collective knowledge base among our technicians. Cross-pollination is one of the greatest differentiators of our product.
That’s how, in the middle of last month, we welcomed a team that brought such an interesting case that, besides sparking a deep debate, instilled reflection in many colleagues who continue to exchange ideas and discuss the topic.
Here’s the question: How to develop an anonymous social network free of bullying?
The first response was pragmatic and operational. The team shared how they developed a “karma” system regulated by the community, combined with a content moderation mechanism based on user reports about posts. This creates a fair mechanism that ultimately recognizes those who behave well while censoring those who violate the rules. This process involved a painstaking effort to recognize parameters and behaviors in order to create impartial mechanisms that ensure the well-being of all users.
However, once the technical and pragmatic stage was overcome, other concerns arose in the forum. What are the advantages of using an anonymous social network? And the disadvantages? Is it possible to reduce the drawbacks that anonymous exchange implies without losing its benefits or essence? To what extent is the responsibility of the programmer extended in the development of such technologies? And finally, what role do social networks fulfill today?
Undoubtedly, these are questions that serve more for contemplation than for definitive answers, and like all good questions, they bring more doubts than certainties. Sociological and anthropological factors come into play, demanding a philosophical approach that clearly goes beyond the purpose of the exchange. However, it fills us with great pride to see the group respond in this way to the issue. We understand that from the position of code creators, we are increasingly creators of reality, and we also understand that the questions posed in the previous paragraph do not have a single answer, and their possible answers are constantly evolving. That’s why we believe that on our part, we have the duty to stay at the forefront not only in technical development but also by creating spaces that allow us to recognize and confront new challenges in a humane and sensitive manner.
