Maureen HermanNov 24, 2022
Mike Galsworthy šŸ¦£

Remember everyone -

Although you may have had larger "follower" counts on the birdsite, not all of those followers will be active. In fact, a huge number won't be. They'll have just collected like dead wood over the years.

That birdsite follower count has a vanity factor to it. Ignore that - and look at your level of interactions here. That's the test of active followers and a vibrant community.

And then make sure you're chatting away with others too. It makes all the difference.

Nov 23, 2022 at 10:25amWeb
Show threadshoedesignerNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I locked down my Birdsite account this week, donā€™t fancy being hacked. I had about 3000 followers. After removing dead accounts I have about 130 followers. Most had not tweeted for 10 years. Has somebody spent billions on a graveyard?
Show threadThe FrogNov 25, 2022

@shoedesigner @mikegalsworthy

I had a good look at the people I did follow before deactivating... But I forgot to look at my ~800 followers. I didn't get much interaction and I thought they just muted me or something, but I didn't think about whether they were still active!

Show threadrivalNov 25, 2022
@shoedesigner @mikegalsworthy Probably, but also: in a sense, commercialization of social networks means a process of conversion to mass media, because you're selling ads space, so, you need stars, influencers, etc., and lots of readers, instead of people conversing. Twitter become a journalists' tool, which for speed and massiveness can't works at the same time as a community conversation place. Society ain't market. Culture ain't business. Show ain't relation. Etc.
Show threadshoedesignerNov 25, 2022
@rival @mikegalsworthy I did use different socials for different purposes, eg birdsite for politics/current affairs, Insta for creative stuff. But Iā€™m most active on a bulletin board that I joined in 2001, I know many of the members IRL, it is ad free. I think commercial socials (Esp. Meta) have pushed the ad content as far as they can and tipped the balance. It just makes me lose interest, stop posting &/or delete.
Show threadTriciaflnNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Thank you Mike! It's also good to know, as individuals, you get to hear what we say too. I know you do this on your podcasts and read comments ( and we can all see and respond). It's much appreciatedšŸ„°
Show threadMike Galsworthy šŸ¦£Nov 23, 2022

@TriciaFln I do!

For me, it's always been about community. šŸ˜

Show threadpatrickcherryNov 23, 2022

@mikegalsworthy @TriciaFln ummm yes, but isn't it about being THE global news source, that all print and media journalists use to learn about and break new stories? And where trends can sway editorial views and the politicians beyond?

If journos/politicians don't move to mastodon, the risk is that mastodon becomes a nice social media platform for reinforcing our own views.
Twitter for me is/was far more than that.
We'll see.

Show threadSnopNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy It really does, the more you engage the more you get out of it. I sometimes stopped myself getting involved on the bird site as I was wary of being piled on or immediately shouted down. Thereā€™s actually debate here! Itā€™s a revaluation! Also, you can easily follow your other interests from one account. I set up a Twitter handle for reading once & my feed still ended up full of politics! Here itā€™s much more balanced & I love that. Who doesnā€™t want more cat pictures right? šŸ˜Š
Show threadCountess _Katheryn _BohemeNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Certainly hope so. I had thousands in birdieland 100s of whom I interacted with and miss but can't find here. So far I have about 6 here. It certainly seems a much kinder place though. Birdsite had become a sewer.
Show threadJulie (she/her)Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I've been thinking a lot about what the "right" balance is on here with regards to people I'm following - want enough to make the timeline interesting, but not so many that I miss what most of them say.
Show threadDaren Chandisingh šŸŒ±šŸš“Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Interestingly, I notice that I "like" posts far less here, because marking them as a "favourite" isn't really my goal in most cases. I merely want to demonstrate approval or agreement of the item, and saying "I like this" does that better. Pure semantics perhaps, but it has an effect on my behaviour
Show threadPatricia HowellNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘ Absolutely!!
Show threadKaren RichardNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy still following and reading.
Show thread1r0n51d3Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy this is very true! Social media in all its forms is a tool to connect with other people. It's a means to that end. When it becomes the purpose ie collecting followers it ceases to work. We often blame social media for creating ills in society but that's just down to how we use that "tool"
Show threadLady GirasolesNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy
I agree- however here I feel intimidated to contribute as I am not an expert on anything, from lego to law to science to anything. My contributions are mainly retweets. Donā€™t feel I belong here as donā€™t want to be shot down for not understanding.
Show threadJust IceNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Great advice Mike!
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy yes, completely concur with that - very clear to me as I'm posting (roughly) the same in both places (with the exception of the micro-book reviews that only appear here)... I'm expecting to move over wholesale by the end of the year & leave my Twitter account in suspension (but not closed)
Show threadRebeccaNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I've been getting so many more interactions here than I do on the other place (not that I had a huge follower count there...), it's nice!
Show threadJoNov 23, 2022
@[email protected]'m on the bird-site, but seriously thinking of deactivating it...or blocking every single idiot over there. I'm new to Mastadon..Hoping to find peace and friends here.
Show threadWolfie RankinNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Sadly a few of mine died.
Show threadDaveNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy excellent advice!
Show threadSirFinšŸ‡ŖšŸ‡ŗ Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy itā€™s great to see so many of you ā€œbig hittersā€œ here. The only person whom I really miss, who isnā€™t here yet, is at Prof Jennifer Cassidy @oxfordprof. I do miss my interactions with her (and her violin solos!) If anybody can convince her to come to onboardā€¦ That would complete my timeline! šŸ™šŸ™ŒšŸ«¶
Show threadHerstory1Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy People need to stop worrying so much about numbers of followers and focus on the quality of content and interactions. Good content will make it to people who donā€™t follow you provided it is tagged with the right hashtag.
Show threadWilsoNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy yep. Got half the followers here, but actually getting interactions. Itā€™s nice. What social media should be
Show threadWhovian76Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy That is one of the main reasons I am enjoying this platform so much more than #twitter. There is actual engagement, interaction and no junk . There is also much much less of posts that are begging people ā€œfollow me follow meā€ without posting actual experiences, insights etc.
Show threadSuzy HNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy 100% šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»
Show threadDizzyDaisyNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy only just joined so new to this site šŸ‘‹
Show threadDr. FlowersNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Other than news sources, I find myself quickly unfollowing those who donā€™t interact and engage (whether they follow back or not). I like conversation, not shouting into the wind.
Show threadMike Galsworthy šŸ¦£Nov 23, 2022

@alliflowers

Agree. That's a fair test of others in this environment.

Show threadDr. FlowersNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Of course, there are (too?) many people who see social media solely as a blogging exercise. They just want as many people as possible to read their words. Do all your followers always read all your social media posts?
Show threadThe mechanical mountain goatNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy
Quality, not quantity.
Show threadDystopianProphetNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I had a sizable following many years ago, with engagements I'm glad are no longer on the record. I was against Cheeto Jesus from the start and my own following got me banned. by 2016.
Show threadDonna Dechen BirdwellNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Nailed it!
Show threadJan BennettNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘
Show threadAnomnomnomalyNov 23, 2022

@mikegalsworthy

My follower count on the #birdsite when I deleted my account about 4yrs ago was... about 10

Of those 10, I conversed with basically one of them... An ex I would catch up with every few years for a quick chat.. which is about how often I logged into the place.

Because I messed up and alienated myself to her after my autism diagnosis (my fault not hers)... I decided to delete it entirely... I got rid of facebook 10yrs ago too.

Show threadHistory DadNov 23, 2022
Quantity < Quality
Show threadJamie Mango ShermanNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I find as I choose people to follow on Mastodon, I am fine tuning my selections from my Twitter account, as well as choosing much more diverse people and organizations here. Very peaceful and interesting now. šŸ™‚
Show threadTim HopkinsNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I find that is generally true on so many social media platforms, not to mention those who troll for followers then throw you back as soon as youā€™ve mutually followed. Those who actively engage are few in my experience. Completely new on here and hoping things might be a little different.
Show threadRachel MariaNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy In my short time here Iā€™ve found subjects of interest, so I follow. A witty comment, I follow. A stunning #ThickTreeTuesday photo, I follow. Tips for #twitter refugee (me), I follow. Using the CW is key for engagement, it allows you to state your opinion, minus the upset you may unintentionally cause. Be well all yā€™all & if you celebrate #thanksgiving get going on that dish for tomorrow.
Show threadHal BrownNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I have all of 156 followers on #Twitter but even when I've have as many as 250 "impressions" when I try to promote a blog story of mine which in all modesty I think is an original take on a political issue, typically no more than five people "engage" which means they actually click the link. For me it is a useless platform. When I spend time on a blog story I do like a few people to read it. #Mastodon feels like a family tolerant of self-promotion. https://www.halbrown.org
Hal Brown's Blog

Show threadPattyMac12Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy very true
Show threadJesse F BallengerNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy It's true. Outside of a specific twitter sub-community I was part of that I don't think has really moved here yet, interactions across the board are much higher quality on mastodon than the birdsite.
Show threadGlenGšŸŒ» - Support UkraineNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy As I see it, it's partly about the news, but mostly about the conversation. Get involved, say some things and discuss them. Listen to what others have to say, and don't be afraid to add your two cents, even if it's not techy, written like a pro, or imperfect. Get involved. Engage. Inquire and explore. Be encouraging.
Show threadGarnoNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy we are all real here! Really European Welsh!
Show threadMikko AlasaarelaNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Agree fully. I have 5200+ followers on Twitter, and I got better engagement to my posts already at 8 followers here on Mastodon. And my Twitter followership includes pretty heavy influencers there. I'm pretty sure my post just vanishes into a thin air on the birdsite.
Show threadQueen of AnxietyNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I am pretty sure most of my ā€œfollowersā€ were bots, except for a very small handful. I never obsessed over follower count, because the things you had to do to increase it all seemed terrible. Just did me, which it seems is much more the vibe here. Loving it. :)
Show threadannekekassteele šŸ„‚Nov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy sometimes I just read, especially when itā€˜s about english politics, sometimes I just like a toot and sometimes I reactā€¦like now. I agree with you that it is not about the numbers.
Show threadRob HadleyNov 23, 2022

@mikegalsworthy You are absolutely right. I had a very good number of Followrs on T, and used it to support my business. Since deactivating it I have seen neither a drop in website visits nor revenues. It seems highly likely that a huge proportion were either dead or not relevant.

There was a time this probably wasn't the case. I suspect it was a long time ago. It takes a little courage to walk away, but the toxicity of right wing nonsense has just got so bad that I am glad I did.
#Twitter

Show threadKDragosNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy so true!
Show threadLazar OdićNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Same thing when companies are looking for people. It's far more important you have an active, engaged audience than just a big ol' number but little traction.
Show threadMorganmanNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Elon Musk said, "if you don't like how I'm running Twitter then delete the app." So I have.
Let's try here.
Show threadTwoSlipsAndAGullyNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I take exception to you calling both my followers deadwood. šŸ˜‰
Show threadStefan SchollNov 23, 2022

@mikegalsworthy On #Twitter I have about 5% of my follower count as impressions for a boring tweet without flashy keywords/hashtags. After a week.

This means most of my followers have the algorithmic timeline and don't even see what I'm tweeting.

Show threadTheIndigoDingoNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy the conversations here have been so wonderful. Such a change. I would comment and not see much back but here people are ENGAGED. Itā€™s such a refreshing thing.
Show threadLady GeeNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy Itā€™s almost exactly the same for me. Without a lot of the big accounts. I come on for news and insightful discussion. The problem is they will come and try to disrupt the peace because they are terrible people. Already saw a couple people praising musk on here this morning. šŸ™„
Show threadTodd ANov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy I loved the other site much better back when it was conversational and less broadcasting. I actually met and became friends with real people back then.
Show threadJoe KNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy So where is the 'like' button, or its equivalent?
Show threadThe Connection at St.Martin'sNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy so true, we saw our numbers fall greatly so to connect with people, we came here šŸ’™
Show threadnatanyaakovNov 23, 2022
@mikegalsworthy yea itā€™s not like thereā€™s a correlation between follower count and reach.