It's a sad, sad landscape. The days of 'positive' social media are over. Honestly, the planet is better off if they all crumble and we go back to texting and catching up for coffee and gossip at the local cafe.
I agree that the planet would be better off without social media. But, depending on what you mean by “positive” social media, I may beg to differ regarding that point. LinkedIn has increasingly become a cesspool of toxic positivity. In my experience, even Notes users have an (understandable) aversion to confrontation. I think part of the problem is we’ve lost the capacity for healthy discourse that may be neither positive nor negative, but simply represent multiple points of view. Everything is either hellfire or unicorns; the mob rules either way.
This is a great recap of the destruction of Twitter and the rise of the next Twitter. Plus, it’s fun to read. You didn’t review Spoutible, however. I have decided to leave most social media and return to books. I do read Substack posts of those I follow, such as yours, and find long form writings are helping me detox from social media mania and the associated ADD.
"Twitter, prior to Musk’s takeover, had been caught multiple times playing fast and loose with user data. So it signed a consent decree with the FTC in 2010 committing the firm to lots of internal work regarding data privacy and security. It then violated that decree in the 2010s, and so had to pay $150 million fine in 2022, and redouble its commitment to data privacy. When Musk bought the firm, he fired most of the people in charge of FTC compliance, and probably unwittingly gave user data access to third parties. Which is likely both illegal and Twitter’s third violation of the law. That’s the kind of thing that can incur a huge fine, as well as penalties against individuals in charge of decision-making. And guess who makes the decisions at Twitter? Elon Musk.
During the subcommittee hearing, which revolved around Hunter Biden’s laptop-style scandals, participants occasionally veered into the FTC. (Jordan released a silly mostly ignored report pretending there’s some connection, my org put out a rebuttal.) And no one seemed to understand why the FTC would police Twitter’s violation of the law, instead chalking it up to some sort of conspiracy to censor conservatives. (Taibbi, after attacking the FTC, didn’t seem to realize there had been a consent decree.)"
It's a sad, sad landscape. The days of 'positive' social media are over. Honestly, the planet is better off if they all crumble and we go back to texting and catching up for coffee and gossip at the local cafe.
I agree that the planet would be better off without social media. But, depending on what you mean by “positive” social media, I may beg to differ regarding that point. LinkedIn has increasingly become a cesspool of toxic positivity. In my experience, even Notes users have an (understandable) aversion to confrontation. I think part of the problem is we’ve lost the capacity for healthy discourse that may be neither positive nor negative, but simply represent multiple points of view. Everything is either hellfire or unicorns; the mob rules either way.
Loved this piece!
Nice roundup. Been meaning to check out your work. Subscribing now.
This is a great recap of the destruction of Twitter and the rise of the next Twitter. Plus, it’s fun to read. You didn’t review Spoutible, however. I have decided to leave most social media and return to books. I do read Substack posts of those I follow, such as yours, and find long form writings are helping me detox from social media mania and the associated ADD.
I’m on Bluesky and have been watching the drama unfold there. It is absolutely wild, and your description here is accurate and excellent 👏🏽
This is hands down the best account of the Twitter implosion i've ever come across.
Threads feels more like a *work party* than actual work. I’m not sure that’s better.
https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/elon-musk-vs-the-ftc
"Twitter, prior to Musk’s takeover, had been caught multiple times playing fast and loose with user data. So it signed a consent decree with the FTC in 2010 committing the firm to lots of internal work regarding data privacy and security. It then violated that decree in the 2010s, and so had to pay $150 million fine in 2022, and redouble its commitment to data privacy. When Musk bought the firm, he fired most of the people in charge of FTC compliance, and probably unwittingly gave user data access to third parties. Which is likely both illegal and Twitter’s third violation of the law. That’s the kind of thing that can incur a huge fine, as well as penalties against individuals in charge of decision-making. And guess who makes the decisions at Twitter? Elon Musk.
During the subcommittee hearing, which revolved around Hunter Biden’s laptop-style scandals, participants occasionally veered into the FTC. (Jordan released a silly mostly ignored report pretending there’s some connection, my org put out a rebuttal.) And no one seemed to understand why the FTC would police Twitter’s violation of the law, instead chalking it up to some sort of conspiracy to censor conservatives. (Taibbi, after attacking the FTC, didn’t seem to realize there had been a consent decree.)"
Your love of billionaires is impressive: there are good billionaires and bad billionaires, but GAFAM rules as they should.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-institutions/news/french-slam-choice-of-us-economist-for-top-eu-job/
Good summary. I am NOT going to Threads.