> I am a 15-year-old girl. Let me show you the vile misogyny that confronts me on social media every day
The examples included here are horrible. Not just the sex-shaming, but that too.
I'm far from convinced that a social media ban is the answer, but the comment is still well worth reading - especially by men.
Social media has also helped incredible amounts of people though. It's allowed marginalized minorities to find people like them. It's allowed people to organize against oppressive governments.
It's also curated local events and increased turnout and access to so many things for so many people.
We can say "burn it to the ground" and part of me wants to agree, but... It would harm a lot of people too.
@CordiallyChloe @osma @neil Ban capitalist social media(*) and everyone migrates to the fediverse or what comes next.
(*) defined as all the aspects that make it profitable
@CordiallyChloe @osma @neil The point is that "ban capitalist social media" is a demand our side can rally behind.
Unlike "ban social media" which is intentionally divisive and fucks over everyone who depends on it for a lifeline, or "ban kids from the internet" which largely does the same and also suppresses participation by anyone who can't safely show ID and serves the interests of fascism and surveillance capitalism.
I won't rally behind "ban social media."
It includes places like Mastodon. This is still social media.
It would push out new start-ups bc they'd be unable to keep up with legislative requirements.
It would prevent LGBTQ people from accessing critical information and communities.
It would fracture organizations and groups that need it to survive.
Even if your argument is that we should be "negotiating high," it's still not a negotiation anyone will team up behind.
Try "ban hate speech" and negotiate down to "ban profit-driven algorithmic hate."
RE: https://mas.to/@osma/115926080124459252
This is not social media. Media has centralized editorial control.
@CordiallyChloe @dalias @neil
Mastodon is defined as *social* media.
You can nitpick, redefine, and hyperfocus on a word all you want. It doesn't change the fact that mastodon, bluesky, Facebook, threads, Twitter, reddit, TikTok, and Pixelfed are all considered social media by the wider public, meaning that's how it's handled, discussed, and defined.
I see people do this all the time with words like "transphobia." They say "a phobia is a fear. I'm not afraid of trans people." And that's wrong for a million reasons. And the hyperfocus on a root of the word doesn't change what transphobia is or what it means.
Neil Brown
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