GydaJul 5, 2023
Kim Crayton ~ Her/She

OMG THIS

My ability to get folx, who’d normally dismiss me as just another “angry Black woman”, to start paying attention to the harm they’re inflicted at scale is 100% the result of how this platform used to work

I’ve been on others for years and they don’t come close

Jul 5, 2023 at 5:56pmWeb
Show threadJackie GardinaJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Oh interesting. I appreciate this articulation of what is happening.
Show threadJames MorrisJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 I don't want to get into conspiracy theories, but the redacted list of the actual current owners of Twitter is intriguing. https://www.techdirt.com/2023/06/12/twitter-reveals-that-x-holdings-corp-has-95-shareholders-that-it-would-like-to-keep-secret/
Twitter Reveals That ‘X Holdings Corp.’ Has 95 Shareholders… That It Would Like To Keep Secret

All sorts of interesting things can happen in the process of a lawsuit. What’s going on here may seem complex, but stick with it, as it’s worth following… You may recall that back in April, it was …

Techdirt
Show threadschuelermineJul 6, 2023
@jmorris @KimCrayton1 how is a blacked out list “intriguing”?
Show threadJames Harris - Find my bridged Bluesky accountJul 6, 2023
@jmorris @KimCrayton1 I’d put money on there being Saudi, Russian and Chinese money invested in there. My conspiracy theory has been Elon isn’t losing anything from Twitter, he’s just the hatchet man for the whole operation.
Show threadTim W RESISTSJul 5, 2023

@KimCrayton1 so I guess the (or at least "a") question is: how do we get that proximity to power / culture on those "smaller, insular" platforms?

And in the case of the #Fediverse, will it break the community to do so (as I think there's very many people who would, quite reasonably, say they want nothing to do with those who hold power in our current society)?

Show threadCassandrichJul 5, 2023

@tim @KimCrayton1 The only place it can be done is the fediverse. Every other place vying to be the next thing is built specifically to preclude it. It was only possible on Twitter by accident.

I don't really care if the fediverse NIMBYs don't want channels to reach people holding power here. It's not their decision. They can block or fuck right off to some new bubble trap or their own non-federated splinter instances.

Show threadsiderealJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Yup, I remember awhile back my insurance company was pulling some nonsense and my doctor literally tweeted at them (not using my name, of course) and it helped get the situation resolved, essentially through public shaming. I don't know if one could do something similar with social media today.
Show threadKevin LeecasterJul 6, 2023
@sidereal @KimCrayton1
Unless the corporations start to fear toots than the Fediverse is not going to reach the same level of power that Twitter had.
Show threadPari Moon-ForestJul 7, 2023
@GreenFire @sidereal @KimCrayton1
Reddit is still pretty good. Lots of angry trolls and clique-y groups but at least still something in a pinch.
I lived in fire country for many years and Twitter was my absolute go-to for in the moment life or death info.
I found one of the spotters on here recently.
Show thread[email protected]Jul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 huh I think this is actually the most plausible explanation I've seen for what happened to Twitter
Show threadjanimalJul 5, 2023

@KimCrayton1

I've never thought about it this way. Interesting & credible.

Show threadGlenn FleishmanJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 That paragraph stuck out to me in this morning’s newletter, too! Pointing people to https://www.garbageday.email want more of @ryanbroderick’s ongoing insight!
Garbage Day

A newsletter about having fun online

Garbage Day
Show threadthe fairy mimiJul 6, 2023
@glennf @KimCrayton1 @ryanbroderick Thank you for the source.
Show threadWigbert B 🎻🏛🎭🎤🗞🎥📚Jul 7, 2023

@glennf @KimCrayton1 @ryanbroderick

thank you - I also was wondering about the source & I always appreciate, when #creators are credited

Show thread[email protected]Jul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 This is an interesting thought, thanks for sharing.
Show threadJonathan Hartley's old accountJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Right. I speculate that removing this proximity isn't a conscious motivations driving the various changes, but the visions driving the changes are all such that this widely available proximity to power has, ostensibly for other reasons, been subtly but effectively edited out.
Show threadPhoenixNymphyJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 thiiis all of thisssss
Show threadDhavide AruliahJul 5, 2023

@KimCrayton1

This is a deeply insightful — but deeply disturbing — quote.

Where did it come from? I'd like to read the rest.

Show threadAlistair DavidsonJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Absolutely. Twitter was terrible in many many ways - but it still had a democratic effect that was unique and new. From the perspective of the right wing, it was a left wing platform. I hope we can learn from it and also do better than it. It had many flaws that promoted infighting and misunderstandings.
Show threadAlaricJul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 yes that was the dream I suppose wasn't it- that someone in power would notice you for a second. That'll never happen again in the same way, not here, not on blue sky, not on dead bird.
Show threadOver ThereJul 6, 2023
@spinal @KimCrayton1 And they do, as an activist, I have/had access to politicians, journalists, NGOs and opinion-makers that I never had before. I’m convinced that myself and others have been able to slowly make change happen. As you say, the end of twitter could be a door slamming in our faces
Show threadAlaricJul 6, 2023
@oftencalledcathy @KimCrayton1 back to how it always was.. unless we take the power for ourselves..
Show threadBob Blaskiewicz 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 🇬🇱Jul 5, 2023
@KimCrayton1 This is very very interesting.
Show threadParanoid FactoidJul 5, 2023

@KimCrayton1 Before that happened was a confluence of smartphone handsets reaching mainstream, and an app that focused on text limits within the size of a handheld screen.

I think Twitter got popular just because it trained users to write a single thought within the size of a phone screen.

Show threadUrzlJul 5, 2023

@KimCrayton1 I maintain that the reason the Saudis backed Musk's acquisition of Twitter was explicitly to prevent Arab Spring 2.

It's not an accident the *entire* Global Right wanted Twitter dead and then a cabal of financial backers, who desperately want to be anonymous, came together to make it happen.

Show threadLaureJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 #twitter and #facebook were also significant factors in the election of trump. Hello new #SupremeCourt. The spread of electoral lies leading to voter suppression initiatives. The spread of Covid conspiracies responsible for the loss of 10,000s of lives easily. The spread of #disinformation around #LGBTQ+ resulting in draconian new initiatives and hate. Yes some people got noticed and buzzy and some (a few) got attention for their issues. Worth it? Perspective.
Show threadLaureJul 6, 2023
Cc @Bam
Show threadBlue Dot On Red ❌👑Jul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Twitter as the tower of Babylon
Show threadAngelaJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 💯
Show threadOlivier MenguéJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Hanlon's razor:
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Show threadMichael ☕️Jul 6, 2023
@dolmen @KimCrayton1
If Musq's backers thought he was just stupid, they'd be raising a stink. Remember only about half of the purchase price was actually Elon's money.
Show threadrhizomeJul 6, 2023
@dolmen
Henlein's razor: "...but don't rule out malice."
@KimCrayton1
Show threadMichael SimonsJul 6, 2023

@KimCrayton1 @tante

Some folks like DHH openly admitting that already last year

"Third, the DEI movement has lost control of Twitter, which served as the main instrument to run ideological enforcement in the corporate sphere. The threat of Twitter mobs ensured quick compliance from corporate executives, and other figures of power, lest the pitchforks be aimed at their necks."

https://archive.is/RcNTX#selection-161.0-52.66

at around 50%

Show threadFifi LamouraJul 6, 2023

@KimCrayton1

A big part of that was also having a mass of journalists who used what was trending on Twitter to guide editorial decisions and to find stories to report on. This meant activists (and influencers) could get the media's attention and show there was public interest/investment before they even publish something. It was a way to force the mainstream media to actually report on stories. But the media's decline as being useful for regular people and increasingly only useful for the agendas of the rich and powerful really dates back to media deregulation and the ensuing consolidation into a very few hands.

Show threadKim Crayton ~ Her/SheJul 6, 2023
@fifilamoura this is so true…I had several interviews with folx who wouldn’t regularly know that I existed
Show threadOzzy🕯Jul 6, 2023
@fifilamoura @KimCrayton1

also, Fox and others start spreading false stories to ensure the cult have something else to lie about

and the lack of media diversity is a major problem in Australia
Show threadmizJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 That blew my mind.
Show threadmaloki 🍍Jul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 where's this text from?
Show threadKim Crayton ~ Her/SheJul 6, 2023
@maloki other folx have shared with thread
Show threadmaloki 🍍Jul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 ah. Okay. Thank you.
Show threadManniCalaveraJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 What I am asking myself is why it was Twitter? The tech "to be close to power" was in principle there in Facebook, wasn't it? I am guessing there was some unconscious decision (by some media folks, which then snowballed) to take Twitter seriously, and other social media platforms not, but why?
Show threadJuan Jiménez A.Jul 7, 2023

@ManniCalavera @KimCrayton1

Twitter is public by default -so anyone can comment on anyone. And it is searchable (something that a lot of people, specially here, hates, but that is other point). That made it different to other networks.

And it was the place to go for 'breaking news'.

Show threadmollydotJul 12, 2023
@ManniCalavera
There's no "talk to everybody" on Facebook. You can post publicly, but who will see it?
Show threadLawler Hix Jul 6, 2023

@KimCrayton1 you know, i never thought of it that way even though the post makes absolute sense. twitter's always been (or at least, was) about interacting directly with the "untouchables." celebrities and knowitalls who for once could be torn down in a very public stage.

in that vein you could even say that it was always a toxic cesspit.

Show threadHeide EstesJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 I have some hope that mastodon can amplify marginalized voices if we figure out how to harness it — what do you think?
Show threadMalkit FoxdaleJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 my partner and I were talking about exactly this a few days ago. Seeing other people come to the same conclusion makes me think we're all right about this.
Show threadJohnCote Jul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 I agree with that. Elon deplatformed #blacktwitter because the userbase opposed his views. You are quite welcome here.
Show threadKat the LeopardessJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Do you experience the same things over here on the Fediverse?
Show threadKim Crayton ~ Her/SheJul 6, 2023
@Catwoman69y2k no…the randomness of stumbling onto an expert or information that helps me do my work has not been replicated nor do I believe it can be and the only reason I’m not experiencing the same level of anti-Blackness that many have is because of the SPECIFIC instance that I was invited to join
Show threadKat the LeopardessJul 6, 2023

@KimCrayton1 The thing you mention about the specific instance makes sense . I look at some of the conversations of BlackTwitter and BlackMastodon users and I def hear them speak of some interactions on here that make me wonder about privileged and treatment of marginalized groups

Id like people to listen more

Show threadPaul HouleJul 6, 2023
@KimCrayton1 if I get that right you’re saying that you see parasociality (rubbing shoulders with the “elite”) as a source of power as opposed to some who see it as “being trapped in the matrix”
Show threadDean BandesJul 7, 2023
@KimCrayton1 Best evidence for “those who were not in power could influence those who were” is how tweets have caused Musk to change his edicts for new Twitter behavior (e.g. “600, I mean 800, OK 1000”)
Show threadH. MantegazziJul 7, 2023
@KimCrayton1 I remember reading interviews with politicians here back in 2018, and prompted by a question about social networks, almost all of them talked about how much they hated or feared being on Twitter. Some of it was the understandable reticence to be exposed to stalkers and death threats, but mostly it was the feeling that they weren't being treated according to their perceived superior status.
Show threadhazelnot Jul 12, 2023

@KimCrayton1 I... don't really think Mastodon is a psyop pushed by capitalism to weaken people's power

Having a decentralized, non-capitalist alternative to corporate social media means we can have better moderation and more control over the time we spend online

Show threadMe, the HumanJul 12, 2023
@KimCrayton1 This brings to mind Valente’s article: https://catvalente.substack.com/p/stop-talking-to-each-other-and-start
Stop Talking to Each Other and Start Buying Things: Three Decades of Survival in the Desert of Social Media

I bet you're wondering how we got here...

Welcome to Garbagetown