In my opinion, microblogging isn’t really a conversational platform. It’s a creator and audience platform. That format has its place, as well, but Twitter/Threads/Mastodon/etc. isn’t a replacement for forums.
I think that’s fair. Good conversations can and do happen, especially on platforms allowing longer contributions like tumblr, but when a site revolves around following people instead of subjects it makes your interactions a public performance to all of your followers. That has a huge impact on discussion quality, incentivising dramatic takes popular in your corner of the internet and disincentivising saying anything controversial.
When you combine that with poor moderation on most platforms and algorithms that promote outrage-inducing content, toxicity and cancel culture are inevitable imo. It’s shit even for creators.
Thinking on it more, I think parasocial relationships should be mentioned too. If you get popular it can be difficult to publically argue with anyone without followers harassing them to defend you (and their followers doing it to you). If they do so publically, or just share what you’ve said, it can spread the argument to even more hostile people.
In my opinion, microblogging isn’t really a conversational platform. It’s a creator and audience platform. That format has its place, as well, but Twitter/Threads/Mastodon/etc. isn’t a replacement for forums.
I think that’s fair. Good conversations can and do happen, especially on platforms allowing longer contributions like tumblr, but when a site revolves around following people instead of subjects it makes your interactions a public performance to all of your followers. That has a huge impact on discussion quality, incentivising dramatic takes popular in your corner of the internet and disincentivising saying anything controversial.
When you combine that with poor moderation on most platforms and algorithms that promote outrage-inducing content, toxicity and cancel culture are inevitable imo. It’s shit even for creators.
Very insightful, really explains a lot about Twitter
Ty!
Thinking on it more, I think parasocial relationships should be mentioned too. If you get popular it can be difficult to publically argue with anyone without followers harassing them to defend you (and their followers doing it to you). If they do so publically, or just share what you’ve said, it can spread the argument to even more hostile people.