Worth mentioning that The Guardian paper has stopped posting to Twitter, due to its inherently corrupt and conflicted nature.
All journalists of integrity should dissociate from it. I wish a few of the big papers/networks formed a consortium to host a "journalist only' official server on Mastodon. What a great way to regain control and verfication
Yes. It has gravited to Blue Sky, which several Substack writers that I read said they are doing. While I never used X, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, I have used Youtube. Still the moment Musk bought X I told everyone I know they should stop using X, but I just heard excuses about why they had to continue, that I frankly could not understand. It was always going to be headed exactly where it has headed, so good of people to finally jump off, and leave it and Truth Social to the far right. X is a project for Musk that he bought to show off. Won't be so fun if fewer and fewer people are listening.
But as long as governments, companies and celebs continue to use Twitter, it will still maintain a semblance of credibility and influence. They must move.
You'd think stripping checkmarks, adding back the neo-Nazis and changing the algorithm would have been enough. But no - I still hear the excuse that it's where the audience is.
But the sooner we start to rebuild our social networks, the sooner we get there. Clinging to Twitter only helsp Musk - and is a gross disservice to customers
Each time a person/organization posts to twitter, if I can find an email contact, I write them to let them know I don't read anything posted to twitter because of the mis/disinformation allowed. I request that they use threads or bluesky.
About 10 years ago I got a lifetime ban from Twitter because I asked when "older than dirt" Pat Roberts was going to die. I only created an account to make that comment so no loss for me.
Guardian isn't posting to Bluesky. There's a mirror account run by someone not from the US. The mirror account says when they stop posting to Twitter (now X), it will stop posting to Bluesky.
Thanks for the info. FULL DISCLOSURE I am 82 and don’t have any “social media” accounts. However , here is something i heard a long time ago : “don’t write it if you can say it and don’t say it if you can nod” . Also it would be better to get your news information from actual journalists FIRST HAND and that you choose your journalists and that you be willing to pay for it. Substack for example. Social media , like AI , gets its information for free I believe. We used to call that stealing. You know , just like we used to call misinformation LIEING .
I see your point but after the actions of LA Times, New York Times and Washington Post during the election you have to really be careful choosing your journalist - not to be confused with folks writing for papers to fill space. I’m recently finding that good journalist are writing independently in Substack or blogs or newsletters, independent and you find them on some of these platforms being talked about. A very short list because I’m sure there are many many more include Heather Cox Richardson, Judd, popular information, Robert Hubble, Jane Vance, and the list goes on. Sorry, didn’t mean to be so long winded but the topic is important having just given up my New York Times and Washington Post subscriptions👍🏼
George, any Substack account you subscribe to is you having a social media account even if you don't produce your own content you are posting and engaging with it.
As someone who has grown increasingly unimpressed with the quality of thinking of "actual journalists" I am not negating them all, but as a group the Millennial journalists I am encountering more and more have caused me to wonder what they are teaching in journalism school today other than everything you do is clever and wonderful. I do like ProPupublica of course. Now THAT is quality journalism.
I am leaning more and more to the kind of expertise I find in the well written book, and the well informed writer, such as experts on a topic who share their thinking on Substack, or some other publications I subscribe too. I also appreciate reading Journals that publish research or expert opinions on topics, like Journal of Democracy, or The Carnegie Endowment for Peace, or Counter Terrorism Report. So, while I subscribe to several Substack accounts and occasionally watch YouTube, that is the extent of my exposure to Social media, except for all of the Substackers that post Youtube and TikTok links in their Substacks. A lot of it I can do without.
I left Twitter when it hosted Marco Rubio's campaign launch, I guess that was in early 2022. I could see where it was headed. I have an account on Mastodon with the Medium platform's server, and I'm on Threads, but I am much much less active than I used to be.
I found you on Twitter years ago. Musk visited Putin 2 weeks before he purchased it. I guess we know now why 44 billion was a bargain to destroy America.
I have subscribed here for 6 years and love it.
I am on Blue Sky 1 week today. Find me @catbe1
Happier place but the bots are showing up and the Crypto... They did ban MTG, Loomer and Catturd this week. Hooray.
Disclosure: I left Musk's propaganda site the day he took control. I'm on Mastodon, which is billionaire control free due to its decentralised structure.
I quit Twitter a few years ago, when Musk bought it. BlueSky seems like a good step, but we shall see. Remember WeMe? ‘Ello? I’m sure there are others that I can’t remember, that have come and gone.
Also, I will continue to deadname Twitter, instead of its new name; if he hates 'woke' and his own child so much that he cannot use their chosen name and respect their gender choice, then I won't use the new name that he gave that platform.
I'm on Bluesky too. @PRRH. I post a lot about politics and never got any traction on Threads. When Zuckerberg posted this, I left:
"Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory. We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country. Looking forward to working with you and your administration."
No algorithm. Your TL is exactly what you make it, only who you choose to follow.
Fair TOS are actually enforced.
I get informed. by and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
Regular updates to the app/software etc that greatly improve the experience.
NOT funded by or run by Russian capital.
Obviously, the best thing is to try for yourself and see if it's a good fit.
I will not be going to BlueSky because of the aforementioned Blockchain/Russian funding reason. Just because Jack slithered back to the hellscape, doesn't mean it's a good place to go.
Judd, please, please, please .... obtain a copy of the House committee's investigative report on Matt Gaetz...... and publish the report on Popular Information.
Worth mentioning that The Guardian paper has stopped posting to Twitter, due to its inherently corrupt and conflicted nature.
All journalists of integrity should dissociate from it. I wish a few of the big papers/networks formed a consortium to host a "journalist only' official server on Mastodon. What a great way to regain control and verfication
Yes. It has gravited to Blue Sky, which several Substack writers that I read said they are doing. While I never used X, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, I have used Youtube. Still the moment Musk bought X I told everyone I know they should stop using X, but I just heard excuses about why they had to continue, that I frankly could not understand. It was always going to be headed exactly where it has headed, so good of people to finally jump off, and leave it and Truth Social to the far right. X is a project for Musk that he bought to show off. Won't be so fun if fewer and fewer people are listening.
100%
But as long as governments, companies and celebs continue to use Twitter, it will still maintain a semblance of credibility and influence. They must move.
You'd think stripping checkmarks, adding back the neo-Nazis and changing the algorithm would have been enough. But no - I still hear the excuse that it's where the audience is.
But the sooner we start to rebuild our social networks, the sooner we get there. Clinging to Twitter only helsp Musk - and is a gross disservice to customers
Each time a person/organization posts to twitter, if I can find an email contact, I write them to let them know I don't read anything posted to twitter because of the mis/disinformation allowed. I request that they use threads or bluesky.
Good idea
Yes. This is a simple social relation that those who stay do not understand. They prolong its life.
About 10 years ago I got a lifetime ban from Twitter because I asked when "older than dirt" Pat Roberts was going to die. I only created an account to make that comment so no loss for me.
Guardian isn't posting to Bluesky. There's a mirror account run by someone not from the US. The mirror account says when they stop posting to Twitter (now X), it will stop posting to Bluesky.
Thanks for the info. FULL DISCLOSURE I am 82 and don’t have any “social media” accounts. However , here is something i heard a long time ago : “don’t write it if you can say it and don’t say it if you can nod” . Also it would be better to get your news information from actual journalists FIRST HAND and that you choose your journalists and that you be willing to pay for it. Substack for example. Social media , like AI , gets its information for free I believe. We used to call that stealing. You know , just like we used to call misinformation LIEING .
I see your point but after the actions of LA Times, New York Times and Washington Post during the election you have to really be careful choosing your journalist - not to be confused with folks writing for papers to fill space. I’m recently finding that good journalist are writing independently in Substack or blogs or newsletters, independent and you find them on some of these platforms being talked about. A very short list because I’m sure there are many many more include Heather Cox Richardson, Judd, popular information, Robert Hubble, Jane Vance, and the list goes on. Sorry, didn’t mean to be so long winded but the topic is important having just given up my New York Times and Washington Post subscriptions👍🏼
Joyce Vance, Robert Hubbell, Dan Rather, HCR, and Popular Information are my go-to's.
George, any Substack account you subscribe to is you having a social media account even if you don't produce your own content you are posting and engaging with it.
As someone who has grown increasingly unimpressed with the quality of thinking of "actual journalists" I am not negating them all, but as a group the Millennial journalists I am encountering more and more have caused me to wonder what they are teaching in journalism school today other than everything you do is clever and wonderful. I do like ProPupublica of course. Now THAT is quality journalism.
I am leaning more and more to the kind of expertise I find in the well written book, and the well informed writer, such as experts on a topic who share their thinking on Substack, or some other publications I subscribe too. I also appreciate reading Journals that publish research or expert opinions on topics, like Journal of Democracy, or The Carnegie Endowment for Peace, or Counter Terrorism Report. So, while I subscribe to several Substack accounts and occasionally watch YouTube, that is the extent of my exposure to Social media, except for all of the Substackers that post Youtube and TikTok links in their Substacks. A lot of it I can do without.
Linda, I am in complete agreement with you. I also appreciate your posts on many of our mutual Substack subscriptions.
Should at least look at Spoutible too.
Leave X formerly Twitter.
I left in early 24. It was less painful than I thought it might be.
Bluesky is easier to acclimate to as it’s most similar to old Twitter.
Amazingly finding many familiar voices on Bluesky.
Like Substack too. Easy to acclimate. For more full voices some great, some mediocre.
You can survive leaving X, saying as a former addict.
I left Twitter when it hosted Marco Rubio's campaign launch, I guess that was in early 2022. I could see where it was headed. I have an account on Mastodon with the Medium platform's server, and I'm on Threads, but I am much much less active than I used to be.
Spoutible is another
I found you on Twitter years ago. Musk visited Putin 2 weeks before he purchased it. I guess we know now why 44 billion was a bargain to destroy America.
I have subscribed here for 6 years and love it.
I am on Blue Sky 1 week today. Find me @catbe1
Happier place but the bots are showing up and the Crypto... They did ban MTG, Loomer and Catturd this week. Hooray.
Have shouted you out twice. Hope it helps.
Blue Sky is subject to the same manipulation as X unfortunately.
I love the talent I follow on Substack, but need an aggregator of short form comments and links.
I'm trying Sez.us - Founded by Joe Trippi & Co. So far I'm hopeful. It's got a ways to go but the mission statement is encouraging.
Good Luck
And what about you, Judd? Have you left Twitter?
Disclosure: I left Musk's propaganda site the day he took control. I'm on Mastodon, which is billionaire control free due to its decentralised structure.
I quit Twitter a few years ago, when Musk bought it. BlueSky seems like a good step, but we shall see. Remember WeMe? ‘Ello? I’m sure there are others that I can’t remember, that have come and gone.
Also, I will continue to deadname Twitter, instead of its new name; if he hates 'woke' and his own child so much that he cannot use their chosen name and respect their gender choice, then I won't use the new name that he gave that platform.
Judd&Rebecca, Great Information..
Thanks
Thanks for this. I joined BlueSky the other day, coincidentally the same day my son on the other side of the country joined.
You should have included Spoutible in this list too.
I'm on Bluesky too. @PRRH. I post a lot about politics and never got any traction on Threads. When Zuckerberg posted this, I left:
"Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory. We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country. Looking forward to working with you and your administration."
Bleck
Exactly. He’s scum.
Thank you. I just joined BlueSky, so far found Marc Elias and some great bird and cat pics! Big shout out to Popular Information, you do great work.
Does the "300 million active users" exclude the bots? And active as of when?
I got rid of Twitter and all of Social Media in 2018-ish and don't miss it at all.
Spoutible is the best alternative out there.
https://spoutible.com
Would you please explain why you think that? I’m looking and would like to know.
Some of the best reasons:
No algorithm. Your TL is exactly what you make it, only who you choose to follow.
Fair TOS are actually enforced.
I get informed. by and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
Regular updates to the app/software etc that greatly improve the experience.
NOT funded by or run by Russian capital.
Obviously, the best thing is to try for yourself and see if it's a good fit.
I will not be going to BlueSky because of the aforementioned Blockchain/Russian funding reason. Just because Jack slithered back to the hellscape, doesn't mean it's a good place to go.
Thanks!
Judd, please, please, please .... obtain a copy of the House committee's investigative report on Matt Gaetz...... and publish the report on Popular Information.