My response rates for polls on Twitter were 1-2%.

On Mastodon, it's 15-20%.

Twitter and Facebook throttle our natural engagement with our friends and family and colleagues.

They do it so brands will buy ads to reach people who already follow them.

I didn't realise how pronounced the effect is.

I'm angry.

For years, my connection with the people I care about has been diminished, intentionally, to support a losing advertising scheme.

I want that time with my friends and family back.