Ben SandofskyDec 12, 2022

Experimented with reach on Twitter vs Mastodon by sending the same “canary” post on both platforms. I saw about the same engagement on both, despite having 4% the followers here.

Feels like the value of Twitter’s network is overestimated. If you’ve been there 10+ years, I bet most of your followers are inactive, and it’s harder than ever to get your tweets viewed because of the algorithmic timeline. Mastodon might be at the point where it delivers the same value. At least in my circles.

Show threadDonncha Ó Caoimh
@sandofsky I get way more people engaging with me here. Hardly anyone ever noticed my daily photos on Twitter but I have nice conversations with people here!
Dec 12, 2022 at 6:03pmWeb
Show threadWhyamihereDec 12, 2022
@donncha @sandofsky Twitter is a permanent equation: source creates divisive content retweeted by gazillions of #bots from Far East and #russian bot farms. 10 years ago people still believed in the ‘algorithm’ story, but we’ve had Cambridge Analytica since. #mastodon will never reach that definitive blueprint because of its #infrastructure (though the risk of illegal servers is high). With this said, #indexation needs to become a thing soon if mastodon is to last.
Show threadFredlDec 13, 2022
@whyamihere @donncha @sandofsky good points, what is indexation in this context?
Show threadDonncha Ó CaoimhDec 13, 2022

@fredl @whyamihere @sandofsky he probably means full text searches of Madison posts instead of just hashtags. I don't think that is necessary at all and it's one of the strengths of the system.

That said, I bet someone has hooked the federated timeline to an elastic search database and can look up keywords now. They'd have to keep it secret or risk being blocked.

Show threadMike McCullochDec 13, 2022
@whyamihere
I didn't realize posts here aren't indexed.
@donncha @sandofsky
Show threadchriszanfDec 13, 2022
@donncha @sandofsky Are you just posting those here or are you using Pixelfeed?
Show threadDonncha Ó CaoimhDec 13, 2022
@chriszanf @sandofsky I'm just posting them here. I don't have the energy to maintain more than one federated regularly.
My blogs are instances but get no notice and my photoblog is on pixelfeed but it doesn't seem to be picking up recent posts at all.
Show threadchriszanfDec 13, 2022
@donncha @sandofsky Well, I like the ones at the top of your feed so Im following for more! 😀
Show threadDonncha Ó CaoimhDec 13, 2022
@chriszanf aww, thank you! Have to post another one shortly!
Show threadchriszanfDec 13, 2022

@donncha Im with you on the street photography - its not only capturing life but its archival: capturing that time and place, the culture, fashions, architecture, commercial culture with shops and brands.

Looking through old street photos are like a time portal!

Show threadDonncha Ó CaoimhDec 13, 2022

@chriszanf funny you should mention a time portal. I also run @oldphotosofcork, but I haven't had time to post more than a handful there yet. Not enough hours in the day.

I think there's a similar account for Dublin photos somewhere.