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Discussion on: Taking a look at Mastodon

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

Can you explain why you think Twitter's future looks grim?

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evert profile image
Evert Pot

It's taken over by a psychopathic man-child billionaire.

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

Thank you for that in-depth, balanced & nuanced analysis. Could you expand a little, as I don't really feel it answered my question?

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evert profile image
Evert Pot

Unless you've lived under a rock, I doubt that the the sort of things he's known for or the general sentiment towards him has really escaped you. So what exactly is the question. You're not sure how his past behavior could have consequences in a place like Twitter?

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jonrandy profile image
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Jon Randy 🎖️ • Edited

Yes. I'm asking you what you think will happen to Twitter that makes you so pessimistic for its future? So far I've only learnt about your dislike of Elon Musk. What specific "sort of things he's known for" and "past behavior" could affect what he does with Twitter?

 
evert profile image
Evert Pot

Hi, sorry I'm not engaging with this. Good luck with everything!

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codenameone profile image
Shai Almog

Not OP but I think Twitter is in a problem. Musk is very good at trolling. Giving him control over the platform is troubling. He also needs to monetize it fast since he took on an enormous debt. He has many stocks but he won't sell them so this debt repayment will weigh on him.

Already in the past couple of days we saw things like the attack on the husband of a congressional leader turned into a mockery online where people decided a made up story (promoted by Musk then deleted) somehow justifies attacking an 80+ year old man. I don't care what side of the political debate you are on, this is just shameful.

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

You are mainly referring to human behaviour here - and what humans choose to post on Twitter. THAT is the problem, not Twitter itself. If you choose to engage with, promote, or follow content like that - that's up to you.

I find it just fine, and I don't think Musk will do anything to stop the average user carrying on using it as they always have.

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codenameone profile image
Shai Almog

There have been many studies on the subject. Social networks promote bad human behavior since that promotes engagement. There were examples where the ranking algorithm got dialed back and suddenly discourse improved.

He fired almost the entire moderator staff. This is pretty scary.

Have you gone on an unmoderated social network like minds?

It's all racists and pedophiles. Moderation is problematic but also essential to stop that 0.1% of crazy/malicious.

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

OK, but it is possible to use these things in such a way as to avoid the idiots. I use most social networks in this way, and never have trouble.

People who choose to doomscroll and read whatever sh*t the 'algorithm' is promoting are simply opening themselves up to this all this junk and abuse. I do understand this is how a lot of people (bafflingly) choose to consume social media, and I'm not advocating for zero oversight - but Musk is smart and he understands some degree of protection for vulnerable people must be factored in somewhere.

I actively avoid algorithmic feeds wherever possible and curate my own content.

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codenameone profile image
Shai Almog

100%. I use social media in this way too.

Unfortunately, we're the minority. We're also a terrible source of revenue for such networks since we don't click on ads although I guess we make up some with content contribution.

The way things are going twitter can alienate the users, but also can get seriously hit by regulators and lawsuits. I just have very low confidence in Musk's leadership here.

To be clear, I still post on twitter. I'm just making sure I don't have all my eggs in that basket.

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