SOCIAL
Op-Ed: Twitter suppression revelations and America’s war against itself, The Wonder Decades
Image: — © AFP Jung Yeon-je
In the broad context, America, the most highly medicated, heavily armed, and financially encumbered nation on Earth, has now been at war with itself for about 15 years. This war has now gone on much longer than the actual Civil War. Nobody is winning, particularly America or Americans. Things have got much worse.
Now, apparently, it’s time for a retrospective. Twitter has released information indicating that the former management of Twitter engaged in the active suppression of right-wing activists. This is according to News Corp, that famously unbiased source of news and fashion tips for the dead.
Twitter’s former management denied doing so, but it seems at face value, subject to confirmation, that they did. (Sorry, a few screenshots don’t qualify as court-standard evidence.) Things get weird fast enough on Twitter, and some actual scrutiny is required. I’ll even take Musk’s commentary at face value, but this is an extremely odd case in more ways than the obvious.
A bit of background – Depth perception
Twitter is a reliable indicator of the sheer lack of depth and depth perception in US politics. If you search the term “Woke” on Twitter and browse for a bit, you get a pretty high dose of this anti-woke stuff, more spin on subjects the writers can barely spell. “Woke” originally meant “justice”, a word also seen in the Pledge of Allegiance, and basic law, but who cares about that? Any degree of depth is dangerously like knowing what you’re talking about.
There’s a long history to synopsize here. Since at least 2007, before Obama, disinformation has been in the spin cycle. It goes around a lot and does nothing useful. In short, the spin is now and always about the spin, and in this Twitter case, ancient spin. Nor as usual is there any depth perception.
This case will be all about suppression in the headlines, but not in context with anything else. Nobody will talk about FOX and others shouting down and suppressing all counter-commentary for all these years.
Anything that distracts from the present is usually pretty good market content in America. The present isn’t very nice. The words “failed state” won’t go away. Unresolved issues include education, crime, health, rights, homelessness, and so on, in a sort of never-ending elegy of obscenities. Most of Gen Z wasn’t even in grade school when these massive crises hit.
These aren’t even issues in US politics. The big deal will be about suppression. So Twitter, as the true incarnate form of the short attention span of US politics, is an archive of the issues of the past, as well as the place for the “national reflux” of the present. Twitter is the perfect place to talk about Twitter, things that happened years ago, and anything but issues.
If you want to bring up the past, (you might not) Twitter is a strange montage of right-wing has-beens, too:
- Breitbart
- Cambridge Analytica
- QAnon
- Alex Jones
- Gamergate and various hate campaigns against anyone and everyone
- MAGA
- Various nonentities like the legions of failed GOP candidates, etc.
Suppression; the other side of the sewer
There’s a point that needs making here in context with suppression. None of these ex-somebodies, never-somebodies and ex-issues were “suppressed” as such. They ranted and raved freely. They all obliterated themselves in a sort of blaze of self-destruction and self-obsolescence.
As media marketing, (which is what politics is, for those wondering), it’s like a Golden Oldies chart for some senile Billboard retro history. Maybe my list is selective, but they all have that “expiry factor” in common. They came and went like old cars.
That’s what will happen with the current cases of rabies, too. Any website, particularly social media, can restrict anyone through terms of service. That’s standard practice. Exactly why Twitter denied it was doing so is highly questionable.
Stranger still – If they wanted to endear themselves to the other side of politics, they could have done so easily without triggering First Amendment issues. Why not?
The provision of a service subject to terms of service is 100% unambiguous. Otherwise, you just don’t get that service, and that’s the whole story. You don’t go to your local dry cleaner and expect service while acting like a homicidal maniac to other customers, either.
So why is the former Twitter management in this weird position? They were perfectly within their rights to block whoever they wanted through TOS. It does not, and cannot, make sense, that they didn’t do it on that basis.
I do not “revere” the former regime. I only started getting notifications about my Twitter hits a few days ago after years on the site, and I’m on the other side of politics. What’s to admire?
I don’t begin to believe the Twitter pre-takeover balance sheet numbers, either. I also can’t believe that “we’re not doing what we were doing for years” as public policy for all that time adds much to their credibility.
There’s definitely a case to answer. The trouble is that like most things in US politics, the simple answer, not the correct answer, will get the coverage.
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
SOCIAL
Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?
In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.
The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.
According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.
Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.
Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.
The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.
This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.
Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.
As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?
Only time will tell.
SOCIAL
Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach
While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.
When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.
“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.
Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.
“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.”Â
“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.
“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.
Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.
SOCIAL
Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement
Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.
As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.
That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.
Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.
That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.
Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.
Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.
We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.
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