Tag: social media
Para-Social Gender
Online communities are a key part of trans experience.. for better or worse.
Ctrl-Alt-Speech: Duty Of Careful What You Wish For
Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast about the latest news in online speech, from Mike Masnick and Everything in Moderation's Ben Whitelaw. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice — or go straight to the RSS feed. To get extended episodes with additional coverage, support us on...
On touching grass.
Smartphone, how I (literally) cannot quit you.
Atmospheric Community Feed Builder Proposal
A proposal to make organized community spaces on the Atmosphere for fandom
Take the time to verify "facts" before sharing
And why I no longer believe that covering banana stems makes bananas last longer
The Atmosphere, The Universal Data Commons and the future of our digital lives
👋 Hey, I'm new here - but I've come bearing gifts (I hope)
#oneaday Day 819: Comments sections are self-harm
"Don't read the comments. Never read the comments." It's one of the most enduring pieces of advice on the Internet, and it's always been sound advice. And I've always thought that to be a bit of a shame. Well, let me qualify that somewhat: you shouldn't read the comments on public-facing, commercial sites. If you...
Some Parents Are Treating Suing Social Media As A Get Rich Quick Scheme
There is a flood of lawsuits against social media, from a variety of different parties, all claiming some kind of harm. Would you feel differently about some of those lawsuits if you found out the plaintiffs bringing them were talking amongst themselves about how they were doing it just to become rich? Because we just...
Social Media and Anti-Social Pluralism
Communities are different online and off, and pluralism that thrives in the real world can turn toxic in the digital world.
Embracing open social blogging in the Atmosphere (and less traditional social media)
Protecting my creative time and mental health
My toxic trait
When the going gets tough, I retreat online.
Would The Next George Floyd Video Survive Meta’s New Teen Safety Rules?
Earlier this year, one of the smartest internet rights people around, Heather Burns, suggested the "Darnella Test" regarding any kind of "kid safety" rule online. It's named after Darnella Frazier. You might not recognize her name, but you've seen her work. She was the 17-year-old who was walking to the corner shop when she happened...
industry plant or chaotic good: the geese marketing conundrum
the discourse around geese being an "industry plant" vs just engaging in chaotic good marketing is proof that our collective brains have been fried by algorithm paranoia...
Team Martijn, but …
Ich bin zu 100% "Team Martijn", und dass der #FCSP sich endlich um seine Kommentarspalten kümmert, finde ich auch knorke (das war ja lange eher mau; bzw. schien Community Management oft unterbesetzt). Aber: "Ein Foto des Angreifers wurde mit dem Text „Dein Gesicht, wenn dir eigentlich alles scheißegal ist“ versehen, auf einem anderen Post war...
On posting almost everyday.
I think this could be a good habit. Maybe?
‘You’re fully accepted’: Being nude in public can make us feel better about our bodies (via bbc.co.uk)
Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net: **'You're fully accepted': Being nude in public can make us feel better about our bodies**By Molly Gorman, 23rd August 2026Research suggests that naturism, the practice of non-sexual social nudity, can help people improve their body image. Naturists and experts tell the BBC how...
Headlines That Say “I Ran Out Of Ideas”
I came across a New York Post opinion column by Lydia Moynihan titled The Gwyneth Paltrow AI controversy only hurts women. This may be rich coming from someone who, in the last month, has published reports on a free air conditioner and free printer left out for the taking in Brooklyn, New York City, but...
Ctrl-Alt-Speech: School Of Hard Blocks
Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast about the latest news in online speech, from Mike Masnick and Everything in Moderation's Ben Whitelaw. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice — or go straight to the RSS feed. To get extended episodes with additional coverage, support us on...
ATP & IndieWeb Criticism: "People don't care about owning their data."
I'm actually not sure this is true?
French Constitutional Council Blocks Under-15 Social Media Ban, In A Ruling That Should Concern Every Other EU Country
Even as the wider EU was grinding through a long, drawn-out process to figure out which regulatory levers to pull on kids' safety online, France decided to YOLO it earlier this summer by jumping at the chance to ban all social media for kids under 15. This kind of thing has become popular with out...
MACRA moves against intimate video sharing
Sharing someone’s intimate video without their consent could soon carry a heavy price, as authorities tighten the screws on those behind the practice.The warning was issued by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in its capacity as the designated Data Protection Authority following the circulation of intimate videos on social media and other online platforms...
I'm feeling some pressure to optimize™ my social media presence.
There are so many cool platforms to try out!
#oneaday Day 802: However bad you think Twitter is now, it's worse
Earlier today, Aftermath posted a review of Half is More, a new manga that explores the life of mixed-race characters in Japan. It sounds like an interesting read, and I may well pick it up -- the last manga I read that was designed around the idea of sensitively exploring the life of someone who...
Sensationalist Economics Reporting in Morning Brew
Writing for Morning Brew, Matty Merritt covered "luxury butter." According to the author: "With grocery item costs up everywhere, even $10 butter feels like a reasonable little treat." I live in an expensive area of Brooklyn, New York City (even by the general standards of Brooklyn) and I would have to put effort into spending...
#oneaday Day 799: The exhausting town square
Social media was often positioned to us as being like a "global town square", where people from all walks of life and backgrounds could come together and argue about who was the best girl in Evangelion. Over time, I think we can say that experiment... hasn't exactly worked quite as intended. I mean, sure. I...
Decentralization is Insurance
And no one's excited to buy insurance.
What smartphones replaced
This is something watching Columbo makes me think about.
We Needn't Have a One True Platform
On Bluesky, user numbers, and the silliness of endless growth.
#oneaday Day 795: Titties - deal with them
There's been Discourse happening today! Specifically on that strange intersection between the "cosy" and "wholesome" spaces, and weird misogynistic, sexphobic, neo-Puritanical behaviour. Much has been written by people much smarter than me about how the "cosy" and "wholesome" spaces are actually not all that wholesome at all -- and in fact can harbour some of...
On Social (Dis)Connection
A couple evenings ago Jennie and I ran into the lovely and inspiring Gariele, Brandon, and their daughter, Aria, riding through our neighborhood. Conversation turned to the early days of our connection, over a decade ago, facilitated by [Instagram, where this post originally appeared]. Back when [IG] - and its kin - were described as social networks, rather than social media. Connections prioritized over content. There was such a wonderful crew of VanIsle creators and advocates on here back then, sharing stories about their love for this place and the experience it affords. And the thing is, they’re still here … just a little older, many with growing kids, all no less inspiring … but a little less (algorithmically) connected.
I posted my book news on four platforms to compare engagement
Here's what happened when I posted on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook
In the age of LLMs it is desperately important to be able to mute blogs and filter websites.
And that's rare.
Alternative tech
Over the past couple of years, I have undertaken an exercise of sorts to reduce my dependence on American tech giants. Inspired by others, I thought I'd pen a short post on what services I've moved and where.
"Content" and the Engagement Wars
Why the word "content" has always been a red-herring, and comments are even better than Retweets.
Mystery as woman feared murdered: Alleged killers’ chilling WhatsApp posts shock Malawi
A Mzuzu woman is feared to have been murdered. Chilling WhatsApp posts allegedly published by her attackers have left Malawians in shock. The woman, identified as 30-year-old Rita Mkandawire, has not been seen since the disturbing messages began circulating on Wednesday. The messages, allegedly posted using Mkandawire's own phone, claim she has been killed. They...
Macht es einfach! Just do it!
...statt zu reden
If social media is making you feel like crap, then re-evaluate how you use it
Also, yet one more reason I love Bluesky
Embracing JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) instead of FOMO
Thanks to Anil Dash for the term
Modifying someone's art without their permission is NOT okay
Also: Advice for artists sharing their art online.
Bizarre fetish leaks stun Malawi
A wave of leaked explicit videos exposing bizarre sexual fetishes has rocked Malawi. The clips are spreading rapidly across social media platforms. The shocking videos have sparked outrage and renewed concerns over revenge porn, online privacy and the non-consensual sharing of intimate material. The leaks our reporter has seen depicts a range of disturbing sexual...
Reclaim Your Algorithm
How to Take Back Control of Social Media
I Regret to Inform You that Posting Matters
Posting online didn’t matter until it did. But now, if you believe in liberal values, it’s time to suit up and fight.
Curfews, Drones, and Criminal Charges: Cities Differ on Approaches to ‘Teen Takeovers’
Experts say race and class factor heavily in perceptions of these gatherings, which are fueled by social media and can involve thousands.
Instagram Part 2
First posted on Blogger 31/10/25 the second of three posts I wrote about Instagram. Image heavy again.
Adopting standard.site
RSS is back, and it's atmospheric