Do you have a Twitter/X account?

[mitogoshigg]

Aibu to suggest you should delete it even if it's not currently being used.

It occurred to me today that whilst I no longer use it, just the act of having an account supports Elon Musk's world view which I do not share!!! (Understatement. Todays outburst against one of his few supporters in Europe made me think I need to act in this small way, if hundreds of thousands, millions also think along the same lines we can send a message (he won't hear but can but try)

I don’t think that using a platform means that you support the owner. I keep X so that I can see what the people with generally opposite views are saying. Staying on platforms where everyone thinks like you is unhealthy and gradually radicalizes you imho.

There are some extremely nasty people on all platforms (including X) but pretending that they don’t exist is also unhelpful. I don’t follow much political stuff on X but it remains as the place where many news stories emerge and I appreciate it as an alternative to traditional media. Some of the alternative reporting is nuts but I like knowing what they are talking about because I’m nosy lol

I would get banned from the likes of Bluesky very quickly because I don’t hold views like transwomen are women. If people are looking for a space where it’s “nicer” then I understand but if BS takes off then the bots and trolls will appear there too so if you like it now then you should hope that registrations taper off.

I have an account and I won’t delete just because you tell me to. That would be ridiculous. I have no issue with Elon even though I don’t agree with a lot of things he says. I don’t agree with shutting down speech because you think it’s the ‘wrong’ views. It’s why I have moved away from the left and I’m centrist now. It’s getting beyond a joke

I agree that it’s chilling. It’s also really weird that some Brits now believe that Musk and Trump have their best interests at heart. Perhaps getting your news from social media isn’t the best idea, after all?

Good point, OP. Just deleted my account. I never use it and I have no desire to support Musk.

'I don’t think that using a platform means that you support the owner.'@Snorlaxo

Twitter's value is broadly measured by the number of people on it. If people stop using it he will lose money. Everyone who stays helps him make more money.

@u3ername I don’t support Zuckerberg either but I have an Instagram and FaceBook account. Unfortunately I enjoy social media and the ease of connecting with people with similar interests.

Place is an utter cesspit .. I stopped using it months ago. Mistakenly dropped in today to be faced with racism, lies, misogyny, homophobia, more lies.. awful place.
When I was on it your couldn’t # search for things without a torrent of porn, and more racism.
Its full of spam adverts as well now.

Im on Bluesky, much better for my mental health

Zuckerberg has no influence on international politics.
Elon suddenly has a very big one - I know I don't want to keep feeding into that.

A few months ago I joined blue sky which has been like a breath of fresh air but still used Twitter occasionally. Tbh it still has its place eg I had a problem with premier inn and their Twitter responder was helpful.

however Elon Musk’s comments these last few days were the final straw- I deleted yesterday

@u3ername Errr… Cambridge Analytica? I’m not suggesting that he personally was linked but Facebook was used.

I don’t agree with shutting down free speech either. I do however have a huge issue with people who spread pure rubbish/lies with malicious intent

I like that X allows freedom of speech. I'm keeping my account. I don't have to like Elon to be happy that his app serves an important function.

I am still on Twitter. It is but a shadow of what it was. I've tried Bluesky and Threads. Maybe original Twitter was a lightning in a bottle moment in time and cannot be recreated.

Perhaps but it’s become so toxic that I think it would have been better to not exist in the first place

This. I don't think it can be recreated no matter how many times people try.

I'm still on it but hardly ever post. Loved it in it's earlier days.

Was investigated, subsequent legislation passed etc., almost ten years ago...
No one says any SM is perfect or personal data is safe on one platform and not on another.

But individual influence. Elon is a single person and his influence has grown too much. It's him personally that's the issue and there are no checks and balances.
One word from him and his fans are ready. His audience is so big because of twitter. (And it makes him money too.)

I still love x even though I don’t like his belief. The book and animal community there aren’t the same on Instagram and threads is just all people talking about how much better it is than twitter!!

Yes I have one and no I'm not deleting it.

All social media platforms and apps are vile cesspits in one way or another because they all have one thing in common: humans.

Only have mine to deal with customer service with my phone company. If you pm them you seem to be transferred to people who know what they are doing and resolve your issue quickly.

I do too but I'm not sure heavy moderation and banned topics is the way to handle it.

When the rubbish/lies are visible you can see exactly what is being said and see the counter arguments and rebuttals. It helps strengthen the pushback, and it stops people living in echo chambers then being shocked when elections or social groups don't do what they expect.

If you are going to allow someone to filter it out for you so you never have to see it you better be very very sure you can trust that person.

Obviously Following is just people you follow but "For You" I can only assume the algorithms work based on what you click on.
Click on cute cats or sheep = timeline flooded with cute cats and sheep.
Click on a Musk tweet or other nasty stuff = timeline full of similar.

I've never read a Musk tweet. I do follow other more serious topics besides cute cats but apart from Temu ads I don't see a huge amount I dislike. Sadly one or two of the really funny people have left.

Tried Bluesky and hated it. It all seemed so cliquey. We are the good people and all the baddies are left on X. Bit playground.

valid points and I agree the pushbacks you see are helpful

I suppose it’s when people like Elon Musk say Jess Phillips should be in jail when he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about, that convince me that it’s not the place for me.

Have also x-ited and swapped to Bluesky, but I'm not loving it. I seem to have got stuck in a loop where I just see posts from about half a dozen prolific posters, so I feel like I'm being spammed.

Those of you who love BS how have you got it set up?

Hardly used it and deleted my account when Musk bought Twitter which I'm quite glad about given how the platform has evolved since.

I don't understand why Govt bodies continue to use it in the circumstances to be honest.

I hardly ever go on twitter now (refuse to call it x, stupid name) when once I loved it especially for things like live tv discussions. Since Musk took over it the search function seems not to work as it should, and instead I'm presented with horrible extremist views etc.