Earlier I posted about how Twitter now puts an Elon Musk tweet at the top of everyone's feed, even if they don't follow him.
That was one thing when it was just Space X stuff or some silly boast. But his latest post—vile, misogynistic, and violent—is a totally different matter.
Twitter users are forced to see this content. I can't understand how any reputable brand or serious professional could remain on the platform at this point.
Heavily redacted screenshot below.
I think there's a bunch of things going on.
I'm not inundated with Musk tweets in my newsfeed. I don't know if this is a mobile app vs desktop difference or a "for you" vs "following" difference.
But communities that formed on twitter aren't magically reforming elsewhere. People are all moving to different alternatives and losing their connections. AND losing their voice and advocacy.
Government and media haven't moved either.
Emergency alerts etc
@canadianglen
I think groups like media and government are either waiting for critical mass on a replacement OR they aren't paying attention, they're just hitting the "post" button.
Communities are harder. Maybe you can get organized and all move together. But people are more than one thing and many are struggling to find something that embraces all of them.
Plus, many people just don't have the bandwidth/desire to start again.
In some ways, I think we're seeing the digital version of people who are/can evacuate before a disaster packing up and leaving while others remain either intentionally or because they have no means of getting out.
This does and doesn't apply to government and media. I imagine it takes a lot of consideration to shut down a public service (which is what many government accounts are).
@canadianglen
It takes more user effort than some people are willing or able to make.
And when we're talking about minority voices, they're counting on effort by other users, too. Which, yes, was part of how people reached others on twitter. But the diffuse nature of Mastodon and walled gardens of other sites makes it much harder to achieve maximum broadcast.
Mastodon needs to allow government run instances to be immune to being blocked wholesale. IMO that one change would go a long way in making Mastodon a potentially attractive alternative.
@Chigaze @alisonborealis @canadianglen
I was afraid that might be the case technically.
As for your desire to block governments, we have the need for things like the United Nations for a reason.
Countries like NK of course block all outside influence, but facilitating a blockfest between nations is downright dangerous and governments will not accept that. That will rule out Mastodon as an option
@Chigaze @alisonborealis @canadianglen
I give up trying to explain to you why facilitating nation to nation blocks with the click of setting is a terrible idea.
Never mind
@Chigaze @alisonborealis @canadianglen
I started a new vein in this thread about what will make mastodon attractive to governments and ultimately as a complete replacement for twitter.
If mastodon can not or will not make special public-interest considerations, the above transition will never happen.
@canadianglen @Chigaze @alisonborealis
.... also shutting themselves off from global influence.
Regimes attempting to shut out the world from their own populous happens now, but that's one way. They still show up at the U.N. and engage with the world. Barring a specific breakdowns in diplomacy, dialogue continues.
@Chigaze @alisonborealis @canadianglen
Yes and then the standard correction about using the term mastodon or fediverse.
Mastodon has an evangelism about itself. It's irritates many people who visit here
@BobC7000 @Chigaze @canadianglen
Hello!
Standard practice in conversations is generally to stop replying-all when people are no longer engaging in the conversation.
Please stop including me. I can look up your thread if I am desperate to know your emotions about social media.
@alisonborealis @Chigaze @canadianglen
Again the mastodon culture landing at my feet like law book.
This literally never happens anywhere else. On twitter we #mute #conversations instead of requiring people to intuit who doesn't want notifications.
Mastodon is a public square not a church. This intense evangelism rubs people the wrong way. Read a lot of sentiments like that
In the end mastodon will be whatever the new waves make it. No stopping that but you can certainly drive people away
@Chigaze @alisonborealis @canadianglen
There's way too much evangelism on Mastodon
Twitter is a unique social medium.
No other has given people the same ability to reach the masses, their elected representatives and media all at the same time. No matter how marginalized they are.
Communities are rebuilding on Mastodon and elsewhere. But they're far more siloed and isolated. Easier to ignore (intentionally or not) and they don't have the same reach.
Why leave twitter if nothing gives you advocacy, crowdfunding, etc the way you want?
@Loukas @ct_bergstrom It's mainly a not very subtle nod to White supremacy.
https://theconversation.com/how-the-alt-right-uses-milk-to-promote-white-supremacy-94854
Holy shit.
@fifilamoura @Loukas @ct_bergstrom It’s both: a nod to misogyny and white supremacy. Possible bonus points due to the porn reference.
Sigh.
Some of her other quotes that let me know and know much sooner than other liberals who weren’t paying attention.
I haven’t seen any of his tweets put in my feed, although I know one New Zealander who has seen this.
If anything I have the opposite problem: Twitter not notifying some replies to my tweets, and not showing all tweets of those I follow in 'Following'.
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