The transition of Twitter from a "cesspool" to a "dumpster fire" is a metaphor I often used to describe the platform's worsening reputation due to toxic discourse, misinformation, and poor user experience. While these terms are not on the masthead, they nevertheless reflect the growing frustration of most users. The perception worsened significantly after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in late 2022. Musk's actions were seen as chaotic and unpredictable, contributing to the "dumpster fire" metaphor.
Layoffs and Policy Reversals: Following the acquisition, Musk laid off a significant portion of Twitter’s workforce, including teams responsible for content moderation. This led to an increase in unchecked hate speech, harassment, and misinformation.
The “Paid Verification” fiasco (Twitter Blue): Musk’s introduction of a subscription-based verification system was widely criticized. The removal of legacy verification checks allowed anyone to buy a blue check mark, resulting in impersonation, scams, and further erosion of trust.
Musk’s Personal Behavior: Musk’s frequent, controversial posts on Twitter, alongside the rapid changes to platform policies (sometimes rolled back within days), made the platform feel more unstable. This contributed to the sense that the platform had transitioned into a "dumpster fire."
Twitter Becomes X (2023): In 2023, Musk began rebranding Twitter as "X," further confusing and alienating users. The familiar brand and identity of Twitter as a microblogging site started to erode, and features users once relied on were changed or removed.
Technical Glitches and Declining User Experience: Understaffing, ongoing user frustration, and technical issues further contributed to the perception that the platform was devolving into a chaotic space that lacked proper management or clear direction.
With all of this going on I was really excited about Threads!
The timing was great! Twitter was in full meltdown mode, bots were rampant and the platform was full of disinformation, not to mention all the nazi stuff. Threads integrated seamlessly with Instagram and therefore had a built in audience. The design was simple and straightforward, kinda like how Twitter used to be, and Meta had the reputation and resources to promote and sustain the platform. I was fully hoping that Zuckerberg would crush Twitter and then beat up Elon in the much ballyhooed battle of the dorks cage fight. I think most of all though I joined Threads because of FOMO. I wanted to be in on (and in early) the next big thing in social media.
However, despite the initial hype, Threads experienced a significant drop in user engagement over time, due to concerns about the platform's long-term viability. Many users returned to other platforms as they sought more unique features or missed certain aspects of Twitter's community dynamics.
Enter Blue Sky! Blue Sky was cool but I was on a waiting list. (wtf) Initially, Blue Sky operated on an invite-only basis, which helped generate buzz and exclusivity. This created a sense of demand and curiosity, positioning it as a fresh, novel experience compared to more established social media giants. And they wouldn’t let me in… When I finally gained approval, I felt like I had been accepted into an exclusive club. A club far superior to the other clubs full of riff-raff and the hoi polloi.
Blue Sky emphasizes giving users more control over their data. This is particularly appealing in an era where privacy concerns about social media giants are high. People who are wary of their data being exploited find this approach more trustworthy.
It’s open-source and therefore appeals to developers, tech enthusiasts, and those of us who value transparency. Users can contribute to its development, making it a platform that evolves based on user needs and inputs.
Best of all Blue Sky offers customizable content algorithms, allowing users to have control over how their feeds are curated. This addresses complaints about the opaque and sometimes polarizing algorithms of Twitter. In plain english there is not a plague of bots inundating your feed, and that is all we really wanted in the first place.
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