I keep hearing that Twitter has gone Maga-rightwing.

[Ferrets are Cool]

I can't confirm this because I don't go there, but IF that subject line is true, is there any difference between supporting Twitter and supporting Fox News?
BTW, if this stirs up too much controversy, I will remove it.

[underpants]

1. Musk let a lot of a holes back on and RW'ers pop up in my feed

It’s stil very much on the left but rightwingers pop up on my feed even though I don’t follow them and in some cases have blocked them.

[CatWoman]

34. If you are under the "for you" tab in the Home menu, you will get a lot of RW loons in your feed

switch it to "following"

[spooky3]

44. A lot of trolls, etc., reply to good posts--I block them too. Nt

[spooky3]

2. A lot of "our" lawyers and pundits are still posting there.

Lots of pro tennis players and writers post info there too, that you don’t see elsewhere. As a big tennis fan, I like their updates.

You just have to block a lot of RWNJ, bots, and trolls. If enough of us did that, Twitter would learn that they make more money appealing to us than to them.

Oh yes, there are great animal videos posted there too. 💗

[True Dough]

5. I subscribe to the "stand your ground" philosophy on Twitter

If everyone on the left gave up and ceded that platform to the right, it would be a loss. Like you (and Underpants above), I simply mute or block the wingnuts that the Twitter algorithm attempts to put in my path. And I don't patronize any Twitter advertisers, many companies have stopped hawking their products and services on Twitter anyway due to the Musk controversy. But the exchange of information and ideas among the left there should not be abandoned, IMO.

[spooky3]

45. +1

[Cha]

40. Not to mention.. Pres Biden, VP Kamala

Harris, Rep Schiff, Rep Dan Goldman, Jeff Tiedrich, So many Dems fighting on the front lines to save our Democracy.

To Each his own.. I don't see any of the Nazi wing shit.. I go to Support those Dems Fighting For us.. too numerous to mention all of them.

[spooky3]

43. Totally agree! Nt

[snowybirdie]

3. I use it as I want

Don't follow any righties and only see posting vs of folks I want. I also delete all Ads I see. So it doesn't effect me all all with Eloon at the helm.

[zuul]

17. Me too.

I block all right wingers so I have a generally pleasant experience on Twitter. And it’s still the best place to find breaking news. And there is so much good content between animal videos and comedians who post really funny stuff. Why should I quit and let Eloon win?

[OneGrassRoot]

4. hmmm...

One key difference I see is that it's more interactive than watching something on TV so people at least feel they may have a chance to have their voices heard to combat right-wingers. Plus, there are more opposing voices on twitter than Fox ever had on.

It has provided a platform in the past for marginalized groups to share their messages; therefore, many feel they don't want to abandon it to the fascists and white supremacists. It really is increasingly an intolerable cesspool though.

[Ferrets are Cool]

20. Good answer

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Don't remove it, it's a very valid question. nt

[mzmolly]

7. I think the difference at this point is

Last edited Wed May 24, 2023, 09:45 AM - Edit history (1)

Twitter has voices on the left as well. Fox has one (lying) agenda and no alternate view points.

[Tree-Hugger]

8. If I turn on Faux News...

If I turn on Faux News, I am immediately met with RW bullshit. It's non-stop and I do not find anything that could be mistaken for liberal ideology.

If I log into my Twitter, I am immediately met with 3 things; left wing posts, storm chasing, and Real Housewives. I do not see anything by the Eloon guy unless it's a lib trolling about him. I do not see any RW messaging.

So, for my personal experience, they are not the same. It's my second source for liberal news/activism besides DU.

[samnsara]

11. yay for storm chasing.. i did it from 2009-2019

..miss it loads.

[samnsara]

9. all i can say is i felt more harrassed during the 2016 campaign than i do nowadays..

[BlackSkimmer]

10. I remember so many here saying they would QUIT IMMEDIATELY if Musk took over.

[bronxiteforever]

12. I did. I found Substack had long thoughtful articles.

Smart authors. I love it.

[BlackSkimmer]

14. Hey, good to know.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out, but first I have to google what that is lol.

[bronxiteforever]

18. Ha! It took me awhile to figure out who was

on it. I want to go to Masterdon and am saving up my energy to tackle it.

[Bev54]

31. Yes, I wasn't on twitter but I am now on substack.

[Sympthsical]

13. It's just people grousing

Anything other than a moderately controlled ideologically coddling enclosure is practically Nazi Germany to some people.

A lot of this is simple, "Why can't we censor more people I don't like?"

Bless.

[BlackSkimmer]

16. Nailed it. nt

[Emrys]

25. Pretty much this, yes.

From observation, those most vociferously opposed to Twitter on DU seldom use it, if at all.

[Sympthsical]

29. Oh, Twitter is a toxic cesspit

And not for the reasons being given in the complaints. It's bad because it transforms ostensible adults into the dull-witted villagers in Beauty and the Beast. It's like, "Remember when you used to laugh at mindless mobs for being easily duped idiots? It was like two years ago . . ."

But I still follow astronomers, historians, some artists I like, etc in a very curated feed.

Couldn't pay me to traverse the news/politics/celebrity twitterverse that composes 98% of the coverage involving the place.

Now.

I need to go find somewhere to rage about the new Little Mermaid soundtrack. I'm a tear this morning.

[Emrys]

32. That gives Twitter more power than it warrants.

Over the years, I've noted that online personas in general can be very different to how people conduct themselves in real life, individually and as groups. That applies as much to those who frequent places like DU as it does to those on Twitter. How often have we seen posts on DU that have been debunked in pretty much the first reply, only to be followed by a long string of replies ranting about the wrong information in the OP? Groupthink and group dynamics aren't restricted to Twitter.

And I've at times been involved in online forums that make both seem like Sunday School outings (like two guys fixing to meet up to sort it out mano a mano in a convenient car park over Mac vs. PC - that wasn't the most colourful nor prolonged incident).

The truth is that part of it is an online cesspit, and other parts are pretty damn wholesome. Everyday life can be like that too, and it's certainly true of the Internet as a whole. It's a question of what you choose to fixate on and encourage - or give in to. I'm damned if Musk's going to deprive me of the value I find in it without putting up resistance in my own little way.

[ShazzieB]

57. Well stated!

I'm not very active on Twitter, but it's not because of Eloon. It's never been my favorite place to hang out online, for various reasons that have nothing to do with the recent changes. But I definitely agree that it still has value.

If someone doesn't want to use Twitter, that's fine with me. It's not everyone's cup of tea. I get that. What I don't get is why some people who don't even use it feel compelled to trash something that others get value out of. That's been going on here since long before Eloon took over, and it seems, well, kind of silly to me, tbh. 🤷?♀️

[Dr. Strange]

58. Yep.

A lot of this is simple, "Why can't we censor more people I don't like?"

And the thing is, you can curate your experience to just follow/hear from people you want. You can't censor others who spout views you don't like, but you can block those views from your feed.

[ecstatic]

15. in my opinion the algorithms suck now,

but it's not a right-wing cesspool yet. They're just shielding maggots from seeing lot of anti-trump topics, while showing "resisters" a lot more maggot content.

Previously on twitter, you could be in your own bubble without having to worry about or see what the right wing was posting (unless someone in your followers list responded or retweeted one of their posts). Democratic and/or liberal sentiment dominated trending topics.

Now, the trending topics are censored to not be anti-maga (in my opinion). Also, if you respond to an asshat (for example tiny d), next thing you know, Twitter highlights that person's tweets on your home feed. Previously, only activity related to people you follow would show up on your home feed.

That said, there's still some interesting dialogue taking place. When the consensus alternative is announced, I'm gone. I'm going where Stephen King goes. Lol

[Ferrets are Cool]

21. Well thought out answer. Thank you.

[JohnSJ]

19. Good question that I also thought about. I don't use twitter, but my question is twitter considered

a news outlet?

[Arazi]

22. I use it for up-to-the-minute frontline Ukraine information

Plus it’s got excellent reporters still reporting good info from Congress, international conferences, political protests, democracy movements etc. oftentimes as news is being made.

My personal circle is still there.

It’s still working for me. I think Musk’s takeover was orchestrated with a global consortium of baddies who wanted to smash a platform that really empowers ideas/communications/democracy but they haven’t (yet) figured out how to manipulate the algorithms to get that result.

So there’s more authoritarian content/posters that I keep blocking while continuing to get the content I want

[JHB]

28. Twitter itself is not an outlet, but there are journalists on Twitter who you can follow

It's an avenue, not a destination.

[Emrys]

23. Twitter's never been Nirvana.

It took the previous management years to finally take action on antisemitic posts, for instance, and reporting foul posts was always a hit-or-miss process.

Twitter's a very mixed bag - welcome to the Internet.

It's still much the same experience for me as it always was, except I have less patience for sheer trolling and negativity in the last few months and tend to block accounts liberally, whereas before I'd just mute them. If they have a paid-for blue tick, that may tip the balance against them if I'm in any doubt, but some of the Ukraine accounts I check out regularly, for instance, have paid for blue ticks to help promote their feeds, which I can understand given the desperation of their situation. My lack of patience isn't because Twitter's been getting worse, it's just having reached my limits after a few years. I also believe that blocking accounts can end up demoting their presence if enough people do it, but that would just be a secondary benefit if true.

One thing I am seeing is more ads in some trending streams etc. - not very productive for the advertisers because my reaction is to block them instantly.

I use my own Twitter lists for most of my access, along with Firefox bookmarks for accounts I only want to check out occasionally. I never use Twitter's individualized timelines.

How much my visiting Twitter is supporting it is therefore an unclear question. I probably cost Musk more than my presence brings in because I've never tweeted.

I get a lot of worth out of it on a regular basis, but that's because I do all I can to stop Musk dictating and shaping my experience on the site. Others should do the same if they're not already doing so.

[Ferrets are Cool]

38. TY

[617Blue]

24. It's an addiction, people can't help themselves...

so they line the pockets of a fascist.

[Emrys]

26. Just my opinon, of course, but I think that's BS. n/t

[sir pball]

33. You've got that backwards. The more people who use it, the more money Elon loses.

With the massive advertising exodus, Twitter is deeply in the red. Users who haven't bought a blue check aren't adding any revenue - they consume bandwidth and server time, which cost money that the company doesn't have, without payback either in fees or sufficient ad views.

They are the ones doing financial damage to he company, your boycott literally saves Mr. Musk money.

[ecstatic]

42. That's a great point! nt

[617Blue]

46. Not buying that

he's probably selling your data to someone. We just disagree.

The man is a fascist and you are using his product. Justify it any way you want.

[sir pball]

48. I don't have to justify a gosh darned thing, thanks.

While I do have an account, had it for probably ten years, I have posted exactly zero tweets the entire time. Hell, with the new auto-cancellations for all I know it's gone.

Anyhoo…one can't really disagree over facts; while Twitter's financials aren't publicly available anymore, it's rather obvious it's not turning a profit else there wouldn't be all these new monetization schemes ranging from the silly $8 checks to the insane $50k/mo API access.

But you do you. I'm glad you've found something to feel morally superior for, I genuinely hope you get positive vibes out of it all.

[617Blue]

51. You'll leave at some point. It only gets worse. nt

[sir pball]

54. I can't leave. I've never been on.

As I just said, I've never once posted to my account. Or opened the app to scroll through my feed, for that matter — I have only ever opened Tweets that have been embedded in webpages, like here. I'm not sure my account is even active as you don't need one (AFAIK) to merely view a Tweet, I could just be an anonymous bandwidth leech for all I know or care.

Glad you're so still confident and content with your meritoriousness though!

[JHB]

27. My twitter feed is pretty much the same as it's always been

The only time I see Musk or whacko RWers is in retweets by journalists and liberals quote-tweeting them to comment via their own feed rather than the originals. Or, more often, using screen shots to avoid direct links and deleted posts.

Now, some of the people I do follow have seen differences, such as people they don't follow showing up in their "you follows" feed, and Twitter has become slower to temp-ban RW offenders for TOS violations than they have been for liberals accused of such (despite being milder than stuff they ok'd for other people). Also, the blue checks are now pretty much useless as identifying a legit source, and more often flag a RW tool.

But no, it's not the total RW cesspit that a lot of people want to believe it is.

[ananda]

30. I've been off twitter since Musk took over.

Oddly, I don't miss it really, though I still can't get
the hang of Mastodon.

[NotVeryImportant]

35. I haven't noticed much of a difference.

However, I do get some of Elon's tweets in my timeline now.

[Mad_Machine76]

36. I just went back to Twitter after a bit of a hiatus

I would say that I can still find plenty of good progressive voices to follow but right-wingers seem to be getting recommended to me for no particular reason and there seems to be a little more presence from some right-wing accounts (bots?) showing up on threads, but I wouldn't say that it's like going on a Fox News forum.

[Ferrets are Cool]

37. +1

[In It to Win It]

39. My Twitter feed hasn't gone MAGA-right wing

I follow any right wingers so I don't see right-wing content unless I go looking for it

[brooklynite]

41. RWers participate in Twitter; they don't control it.

You can filter out their voices (up to an including Elon Musk) if you want to.

Plenty of responsible accounts to keep up with.

[bigtree]

49. I don't see any of it unless one of the people I follow mentions something or reposts it

...my timeline that I see on Twitter isn't 'Maga-rightwing' in any shape, form, or fashion.

I very rarely get a reply or comment from anything like that, and there are ways to block those if they had gotten weird.

Comments to tweets may well be trolling and pernicious, but it's your choice to click on the tweet and read them, much like any comment section behind news articles.

What I don't get is the effort by folks adverse to all of the negative stuff in highlighting 'maga' over the positive, informative communications, dialogue, and advocacy. These social commuications landscapes are not insulated against pushback.

The interest in advocating there is just as it is in any other public forum. You push harder and smarter than the negative influences until you own them. No substitute for that, right?

[reymega life]

50. its why I exited it last October

[RussBLib]

53. Welcome to DU!

I deleted my Twitter account about a month ago. There are still so many Twitter users also here on DU, it's almost like I never left.

I'm kind of enjoying the time I have recaptured.

Can you explain your Username any? A frugivore? Practicing frugality? Just curious.

[marble falls]

55. Great question!