Twitter v. Mastodon v. Post v. Other Possibilities by Teri Kanefield

1. “Twitter – Twitter has done a lot of good. It allowed communities to form. It allowed marginalized voices to be heard. It allowed crucial information to be disseminated. It even saved lives. Like Facebook and other platforms that rely on algorithms to stimulate engagement, Twitter has also done a lot of harm.

The Pew Research Center says this: Nearly all the content people see on social media is chosen not by human editors but rather by computer programs using massive quantities of data about each user to deliver content that he or she might find relevant or engaging. This has led to widespread concerns that these sites are promoting content that is attention-grabbing but ultimately harmful to users – such as misinformation, sensationalism or “hate clicks.”

Musk’s only “power” is the power we give him. He is not the president of the United States. He isn’t a world leader or elected official. He controls the Twitter code. That’s his power. Some Twitter users believe that Musk will crash and Twitter will outlive him and something different will replace the Twitter of today. This seems unlikely to me, but I suppose it’s possible. I also suspect a lot of people are keeping their Twitter accounts active while simultaneously building a home elsewhere as they watch what develops. (I’ve heard that it’s best not to delete a Twitter account, particularly if you are verified: Someone else can reactivate your account within 30 days or use your name. If you want to leave entirely, the best option is to make your account inactive while retaining control.)…”