Mastodawn

Parker Molloy Dec 11, 2022

I'm really worried that if Twitter becomes unusable that I won't be able to stay afloat financially.

My main source of income comes from newsletter subscriptions (https://www.readtpa.com), and Twitter has been the biggest driver of new free and paid sign ups.

I don't know what to do, to be honest.

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Parker Molloy Dec 11, 2022

And I'm not alone in that. There are a lot of independent writers, journalists, content creators, etc., who have relied on Twitter to promote their work.and Twitter was already a difficult place to be. It wasn't some sort of bubble of positivity or lefty groupthink (as EM keeps trying to frame it), but now it seems like he's actively trying to push progressives off the platform.

Parker Molloy Dec 11, 2022

It's why my most recent newsletter(my weekly recap) included to many links to other people's recently launched newsletters: I want to help as many people as possible.

Anyway, it's really difficult. There are no good options or answers for people in this position.

quay Dec 11, 2022

One hopes that there are no good options *yet*.

I hope the chaos from the disintegration of Twitter leads to something as good or even better for people in the online wordsmithing business. I hope.

Good luck out there.

KBSez ✅Dec 11, 2022

I’m sorry to hear all this Parker.

None of the Twitter ‘competitors’ have really taken off till musk started his campaign of destruction and now there are several that are seeing great growth and traction. I’m sure you’ve started using all of them and people are finding you around here and there.

Not unlike folks who make their income from YouTube, it’s hard to be dependent on a platform you have zero control over.

Justin Derrick Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy People survive seismic shifts in industry regularly - unexpected factory closings / sudden bankruptcies / outsourcing / etc. It’s not fun, but it’s a good reminder to save 6 months salary for your emergency fund, and to spend time on some “what if” contingency plans in place when things are going well.

Molly in Missouri Dec 11, 2022

@JustinDerrick @parkermolloy and part of people surviving such calamities is people reaching out to each other, helping where we are able, providing a listening ear and banding together to suffer as a family of sorts. #Humankind #Together

Octavia con Amore Dec 11, 2022

@JustinDerrick @parkermolloy Save 6 months *salary*? As a classically trained violinist, I've never gotten a salary in my life, let alone enough to save anything more substantial than maybe 1 month's worth of rent, which ends up as repair funds anyway. Our current society loves art and despises paying artists anything substantial for it, so you'll forgive me when I say that your "advice" is callous and unrealistic. I hate twitter, but platforms are artists' way of *surviving*.

Justin Derrick Dec 11, 2022

@OctaviaConAmore @parkermolloy It's an optimistic goal, we all do the best we can.

Steffani Cameron Dec 11, 2022

@JustinDerrick @parkermolloy People are JUST TRYING TO PAY THE RENT and you come in here with "save six months' salary," like that's just a thing people can do when they're living hand-to-mouth. already. Maybe don't use such preposterous advice that's so out of reach for someone right now.

It LITERALLY does more harm than help.

Blysse B Dec 11, 2022

@JustinDerrick @parkermolloy Well said. Plus, diversify, diversify, diversify.

ProgGrrl Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy I am so sympathetic to all the writers/artists/ creators who can’t leave behind their massive followings over there. I have subscribed to multiple alternative options and try to click as many links as I would be doing on twitter.

But a new option is certainly not going to pop-up overnight. The twitter ecosystem took a decade to establish.

Now that Space Caligula is actively going after users himself / encouraging violence, it’s the final straw. I had to leave.

Parker Molloy Dec 11, 2022

@ProgGrrl yeah, that's kind of where I'm at, too. I've been actively trying to prepare for a post-Twitter (or a post-me-on-Twitter, at least) world since early 2021, but it's been slow going. It's a really challenging time to run a business that is unfortunately still so dependent on that platform.

ProgGrrl Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy I am just a consumer, just a reader… it’s easy for me to say ‘oh yes, let’s leave space caligula’s site behind now, we’re all going to move forward, to a new world beyond the reach of psychotic billionaires!’

My income doesn’t depend on it.

Chris Caple Dec 11, 2022

@ProgGrrl Thank you for "space caligula" - that is... very apt.

BellaCiao007 Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy When I checked this morning I knew it was time. The revulsion meter finally broke. Of all the things Twitter was useful for was this: finding unique, independent, funny, sarcastic, serious, intelligent individuals (all those thing, yes) that spoke to what much I was feeling and thinking. So thank you. Deleting Twitter data and just subscribed to Substack where I will support my follows with whatever money I’ve got left to spare.

Joe ❌👑Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy Nevertheless, Musk's Twitter is past the point of no return. Those with big followings there need to leave a pinned "where to find me" tweet and focus on developing followings in other places. People who aren't authoritarian bigoted fascists are going to moving, "stay and fight" won't work, soon Musk will be tweaking things to take away your "freedom of reach", as he calls it.

Quiquaequod Dec 11, 2022

@parkermolloy Think of it this way: This is World War III.

BeegyPsi Dec 11, 2022

There are tons of social media outlets.

I'd recommend taking a course in marketing, and maybe network with folks who can teach you how to market.

If this is indeed your livelihood, consider this a lucky lesson. Diversify.

PJ "Vote Green" Coffey Dec 11, 2022

@BeegyPsi @parkermolloy huh... twitter levels of being a patronising asshole. I do not need this opinion or any others like it ever again.