I have never been an "online community first" person. The internet is how I stay in touch with people I met in real life. I'm not a "tweet comments at celebrities" guy. I was never funny enough to be the funniest person on Twitter. So when Twitter was accidentally purchased

It became the only reliable source of information I had. People posted links with a minimal amount of commentary, picking and choosing the best content from other social media networks. They’re not doing it to “build a brand” because that’s not a thing in the Fediverse. It’s too disjointed to be a place to build a newsletter subscription base.

  • I Cast Fist@programming.devEnglish
    11·
    5 hours ago

    People are fucking addicted to instagram and I’m the annoying “get rid of that shit” preacher to everyone I can. My gf has reduced her usage, but still checks it from time to time.

    I always ask “Do you really need to use it?” - and almost always, their answer is “not really, but it’s the only place I can find X”. Some of my gf’s friends use it to find new places to go. Some of my boardgaming friends still use it, mostly to “know what events are coming up” or what new games are being released.

    Instagram is essentially this age’s yellow pages of a telephone list, small businesses are super dependent on it and they’re forced to post fucking stories everyday or get erased by the algorithm

    • jtrek@startrek.websiteEnglish
      6·
      5 hours ago

      It’s one of those self fueling problems. Businesses post on Instagram because people go there, and people go there in part because that’s where they found out about businesses doing stuff.

      Better options are possible, but the big money is backing this hell. Less money to be made from RSS feeds , web rings, and email newsletters.

      I don’t use any social media other than this. I find out about bands I like playing from their email lists or bandsintown. I’m on a couple “things happening in the city” email newsletters. It doesn’t demand my attention.