Mastodawn

So I continue to pop in on Twitter a few times a day, and it has been weird. This morning I read a post from a friend that said that "nothing has changed" and I am not sure if what he is saying is true and I have just gotten used to something better, or if it really has changed and he just didn't notice.

My feed doesn't feel like home anymore, and I am not sure entirely why. It's a subset of the same voices mostly, but it no longer seems as friendly and engaging.

occamyDG🐾🐍

@Belghast I’m noticing on the times I check mine that the brand accounts seem more or less the same, but the personal ones are missing or seem down. I have noticed my mood greatly increase from spending more time on Mastodon than Twitter though.

eveghost 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast I'm having a very similar experience, which has led me to realize that the friendly and engaging people are actually very few and far between. I get very little engagement with my Tweets at all and many of the interactions are quite superficial. I'm told by many that they never even see my tweets, indicating the algorithm may be a big part of it. Probably going to ween off completely.

@eveghost I used to say that using Twitter was like walking into a busy room... yelling a statement, and then walking back out. I think that is still true. So many of the things are just someone spouting something off and then it falling flat.

Even the dumbest thing I say here seems to hit a chord with someone and prompts a response :)

eveghost 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast Exactly this. And there's just this level of apathy, where people can't even be bothered to like a tweet and help defeat the algorithm, whereas here, total strangers are supportive and engaged. I don't know what it is that fuels that apathy but it's sad.

@eveghost like you and I do not know each other really... in the grand scheme of things...

but I entered into following with the hopes of maybe you could be a new lifelong friend...

which is a hopefulness I have not had since the early days of the internet.

eveghost 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast Absolutely felt the same! And the excitement I find myself having for peoples' projects they're sharing here is both exhilarating and inspiring. Plus I've already learned some new things about accessibility, which is valuable in itself!

@eveghost I really thought I would have less access to information being here, but it feels like I have way more access to a much broader swath of knowledge.

John Terwiske Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast I agree. Something changed over there. My own feeling is the algorithm is beginning to falter because those who kept the thing running are no longer there.

Femme Malheureuse Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast I suspect those who feel it hasn't changed may not have used it the same way many of us now here in Mastodon used it.

I had nearly 70 curated lists on Twitter, took me years to assemble them. In contrast it might take me months to do so here because of the way people flock to their interests.

Femme Malheureuse Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast Just checked my lists - those with a lot of academics/researchers have been halved in number. Someone who says Twitter hasn't changed may not be following the academics/researchers I've been following with lists.

AHotPinkMess Nov 16, 2022

I log in to basically retweet artists and people that need help. But I don't feel as 'home' there as I currently do here. I desperately hope we can get this place as welcoming and accessible--more so--than twitter was for everyone.

Kadomi Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast It is exactly the same for me. I look over there, and then usually hurriedly close the tab and go back here. It feels very off to me, and Elon news confirm every day that I no longer want to support that site with my time and clicks at all.

Aywren ❄️Nov 16, 2022

I know for sure that I get far more interaction on Mastodon than I ever did on Twitter, and for posting the same content I always did. I was so stoked to see folks boosting my blog post yesterday - that never happens on Twitter!

I also feel like I'm seeing less activity across both of the Twitter accounts I have. Depending on the group, they've either moved to Mastodon or Tumblr.

Braxwolf Nov 16, 2022

@Aywren @Belghast I'm purposely following a LOT fewer accounts here. Sure, my feed isn't constantly ticking now, but I'm looking for quality over quantity

Aywren ❄️Nov 16, 2022

@braxwolf @Belghast Same here. Of course, I'm insta following any of the gaming/blogging folks I know from Twitter. But aside from that, I'm taking my time.

eldae Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast it feels completely different over there, feed is boring/quiet. This already feels much friendlier & safer to even before the big changes, just need to work out finer points / etiquette of here :)

gamerlady Nov 16, 2022

@Belghast I am trying to continue to engage with people who are posting there and check on game news, plus NASA stuff because MOON rocket, but I also hope his employees give him the bird and walk away from the toxicity.

Calamity Jess Nov 16, 2022