Gregory's ServerI keep saying journalists should leave Twitter and use Mastodon, which is better for them in every way. At TechDirt I've posted a somewhat lengthy why-and-how: https://www.techdirt.com/2023/01/04/journalists-and-others-should-leave-twitter-heres-how-they-can-get-started/
 43 comments
 @dangillmor Really good and well-reasoned, Dan. We're working on our migration off Twitter. Posting more over here and learning our way around as fast as we can. On my first day here, I actually put out into the universe if anyone wanted to set up an instance with us at @damemagazine - I think an independent media co-op would be so good.  @NHPolandhorses @dangillmor "dying mall vibe" is the comment that made me chuckle every-so-often today.  @dangillmor At Twitter you might get the quantity, but you don't get the quality. Here, more people actually care about the details and reporters will have a more fulfilling interaction with their readers. @the_Effekt @dangillmor @MacropodCare @dangillmor The range of knowledge here is pretty amazing. I saw a post earlier on a subject (forget what it was at the moment) where I thought that it was so remote, no one else would ever know about that. But I was wrong. Glad I'm here. It's a different experience actually using my brain for social media. @the_Effekt agree totally John. #Multiple #conversations, multiple #subjects, multiple #participants. Multiple #POVs  @the_Effekt @dangillmor Reporters will also be held to account for their reporting which is the reason some of them don't want to make the move. @PattyHanson @dangillmor That's a very good point! Most people here will catch syntax change that skews the topic, and outright lies will be obvious. They won't get away with that here. (Most technology media can breathe a sigh of relief). lol  @dangillmor I think this is all correct, and thanks for writing it! I guess one thing that I'd add to your points about inertia & critical mass is that I think network effects are a huge part of why so many journos are still on twitter: all the others journos are still on twitter. I think that might become less of a problem as Masto use increases, and Twitter proves itself less and less reliable in the coming months... @dangillmor 100%. Once the bird app started banning them I left and have really enjoyed following them here.  @dangillmor As long as Musk keeps quiet, they’re not going anywhere. Too much of a following on Twitter. Mastodon is just an alternative…just in case Musk goes crazy again. Very short sighted.  @dangillmor better in every way except for the size of the audience... I am doing my part, I am here audiencing as hard as I can!  @dangillmor The problem with Mastodon is there's no uniqueness to user names. Joe Dingleberry can find he can be JoeDinglberry@SomeServer.org but somebody else could be JoeDingleberry@ARivalServer.com  this was always possible on Twitter, except now the server could be your company's domain name. I'd assume that would be better for journalists. @dangillmor You make a point, but personally. I don't want them here. I consider myself to be more informed than average, and I have done it without buying a newspaper or paying for cable in more than 20 years. I come here because there is minimal corporatist propaganda. @dangillmor I wish they would follow your advice. I saw a whole bunch of journalists make an exodus, only to grab a placeholder here and continue tweeting on the hellsite. @dangillmor They're addicted to the attention there. Unless there's a major migration here by users, it is going to be a slog to get journos over here. we should set something like a cut off date. or maybe a month where beforehand, we focus on getting everyone set up over here and try to get them to duplicate all their relationships. then for that month, we encourage everyone to only use Mastodon. a concerted effort to see if we can overcome the network effect.  @dangillmor Near the end you mention: "countless government agencies also use the birdsite as a vehicle for messaging of all kinds." Getting these agencies off (or at least, not posting original material) there is something I'm really interested in. I've seen various discussions of it, but not yet an organized effort to set up spreadsheets, form letters, etc and get volunteers reaching out to the agencies. If/when someone starts that, I'd love to join the effort! @dangillmor Hope it isn't one of those ones that goes: "You have to pick a server. It's so much harder than Twitter. Did I mention that you have to pick a server? A server; you have to pick one. It's sooooooo hard! So much harder than Twitter! YOU. HAVE. TO. PICK. A. SERVER. The very labor of Sisyphus. Purest, purest suffering." Because that's all the other articles say. We live in a culture of narcissism put on steroids by Trump. Everyone is susceptible. Including journalists. @dangillmor All media outlets around the world must know that Twitter is already an alt-tech website. Mastodon will be the best bet for those who will leave Twitter. All news outlets in my country don't have Mastodon accounts yet. @dangillmor Journalists, Independent News Agencies, Small Newspapers, Big Newspapers, I agree!!! @dangillmor Your article is what convinced me to register for a Mastodon account after years of being a “social media” sceptic. Thanks for writing your thoughts so effectively  @dangillmor they did, but then slithered back. Twitter is far more popular and gives them significantly more exposure. There are some paying $8 an hour for the privilege of posting as Musk allows. @dangillmor uggg it will be extremely difficult for people to move... Normal users are addicted to chatter that never stops and things being pushed to them, other accounts like journalists are addicted to exposure they get, the likes, the engagement... It's a mount everest type uphill climb. I still hope twitter gets replaced by federated social media but just don't see it yet how |
Anyone who remains on Twitter is a fool. It is not safe.
@dangillmor