I want to explore why Musk’s proposed business model for Twitter- selling blue checks- won’t work, because I think that it’s a great case study in human nature.
Regarding the experience of a content-viewer on Twitter: why would it be the case that “The algorithm is boosting content they you don’t want to see- the inane thoughts of those who have bought a blue check.”?
I see no particular reason why blue-check buyers would make more inane content than non-buyers. I don’t use twitter so maybe I’m missing something about the social environment there, but a priori I’d expect the quality of their content to be broadly similar.
Generally speaking the algorithm is 'meritocratic' in the sense that it makes its decisions on the basis of what will maximise interactions. If it starts prioritising content on the basis of two criteria: who has paid and what will maximise interactions, it will necessarily have to put less weight on the second factor than if it considered the second factor alone.
Thanks for putting this into words. I really like your points about the reverse panopticon.
Regardless of the platform or type of content though, aren't we all (especially writers) basically hoping to be discovered? Will this be any different on Mastodon, Substack, or Medium (not sure if that's still a really active spot)?
Yeah I think that's a pervasive and problem and Twitter going under won't directly affect it, nonetheless I chucked in that old essay because I thought it was relevant.
Well, you are spot on about Twitter especially leading writers to craft tweets not for their own community/followers, but rather for The Watcher / The Discoverer, whoever that may be. Other platforms will have this dynamic, but I wonder (and hope) it will be less prevalent than Twitter. Thank you again for the thoughtful take on this topic!
Regarding the experience of a content-viewer on Twitter: why would it be the case that “The algorithm is boosting content they you don’t want to see- the inane thoughts of those who have bought a blue check.”?
I see no particular reason why blue-check buyers would make more inane content than non-buyers. I don’t use twitter so maybe I’m missing something about the social environment there, but a priori I’d expect the quality of their content to be broadly similar.
Generally speaking the algorithm is 'meritocratic' in the sense that it makes its decisions on the basis of what will maximise interactions. If it starts prioritising content on the basis of two criteria: who has paid and what will maximise interactions, it will necessarily have to put less weight on the second factor than if it considered the second factor alone.
Thanks for putting this into words. I really like your points about the reverse panopticon.
Regardless of the platform or type of content though, aren't we all (especially writers) basically hoping to be discovered? Will this be any different on Mastodon, Substack, or Medium (not sure if that's still a really active spot)?
Yeah I think that's a pervasive and problem and Twitter going under won't directly affect it, nonetheless I chucked in that old essay because I thought it was relevant.
Well, you are spot on about Twitter especially leading writers to craft tweets not for their own community/followers, but rather for The Watcher / The Discoverer, whoever that may be. Other platforms will have this dynamic, but I wonder (and hope) it will be less prevalent than Twitter. Thank you again for the thoughtful take on this topic!