Neil Johnson
Between Elon destroying Twitter, another crypto exchange (FTX) revealed as an over-leveraged Ponzi scheme, and the failure of most of the neo-fascist election deniers to secure enough votes to actually win office, it feels like this week we may have finally reached the end of an era, and the grifters will finally have to face some consequences. Who knows, maybe Trump will actually serve some time, too — he’s certainly lost his grip on his party. Maybe the spell is broken?
Nov 13, 2022 at 2:26amWeb
Show threadNeil JohnsonNov 13, 2022

I want to be clear that I’m not celebrating anyone losing their job at Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, or any of the other Big Tech firms that have dominated our online lives, now facing a contracting market.

I'm simply pointing out that these surveillance capitalism companies who’ve made money spreading misinformation and outrage may have reached a limit to what they can monetize at the expense of civil society and healthy social relationships.

Show threadNeil JohnsonNov 13, 2022
Here’s hoping that all the folks who were laid off this week can find better opportunities with organizations that don’t base their revenue model on monetizing misinformation and misery
Show threadIvan MoscosoNov 13, 2022
@stratofax they may have reached a limit with their current business models, but I still wonder what happens to all those unspent advertising dollars, the “fuel” for that engine..
Show threadNeil JohnsonNov 13, 2022

@ivan3bx that’s a good question and I have no idea where that money will land.

It’s telling that the most punishing consequences for Musk’s cruel and careless handling of Twitter were a result of the brands pulling their ad dollars out as Twitter descended into unfettered hate speech

Show threadIvan MoscosoNov 13, 2022
@stratofax Yep. I suppose the thing these social media companies provide advertisers (other than eyeballs) is a place for brands to reinforce a positive image. Make the platform’s problems the focus, and it’s suddenly a risky proposition. So maybe these ad dollars will end up some place that’s boring but data-rich..
Show threadAndrew MartinNov 13, 2022
@stratofax it would be nice to believe you’re right but I believe the trend shows that they just get better at hiding their surveillance mechanics within simple to use yet relatively pointless services. Heck, we’ve been willing participants for nearly two decades, providing information and asking for nil in return. What’s the motivation to change now? Also, its okay to be ambivalent towards those being laid off. Regardless of their stance on the moral/ethical abuses perpetrated
Show threadAndrew MartinNov 13, 2022
@stratofax in the name of capitalism, I can’t believe so many of them have been under a rock these dozens of years. Its been a slow burn and they’ve all been constructing this system of data theft. If I found out my bosses were abhorrent people, I wouldn’t hold it against anyone else for hoping they fail. Its the individuals cross to bare. Personally speaking, I hope that they can find jobs to feed, clothes, and house themselves as quickly as possible but I don’t think
Show threadAndrew MartinNov 13, 2022
@stratofax I’m being very prophetic or breaking new ground when I say we’re dangerously close to making all the same mistakes in even more gloriously fucked up new ways.
Show threadNeil JohnsonNov 13, 2022

@AndrewMartin I agree -- we're not about to enter some glorious utopia where social media is awesome and everybody gets along all of a sudden.

Yet, it feels like something is shifting, and the existence (and success) of Mastodon, for example, shows that there are other ways to build a social network that doesn't spew toxic effluent into our culture and democracy so a handful of shareholders can make obscene profits.

Show threadIncorrigible Maker for HARRISNov 13, 2022
@stratofax
I'm rejoicing for the nation, but gutted about the red stranglehold on Florida. We are now, officially, a full-fledged banana republic, complete with a fat little dictator who wants to move up to the next level 😔
Show threadNeil JohnsonNov 13, 2022
@OlDude82 Sadly, progress never moves forward in a straight line. I also think, IMHO, that DeSantis may share Trump's authoritarian instincts and sociopathic will to power, but he seems to lack Trump's strange populist appeal to win on the national stage. He's more of a Viktor Orban figure than a populist like Trump or Silvio Berlusconi.
Show threadWard Chanley 🏳️‍🌈Nov 13, 2022

@stratofax re: Maybe the spell is broken?

one can only hope...

Show threaddevoirNov 13, 2022
@stratofax god I hope so.