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Parler is currently the number one app in the world for new downloads.
Its growth is being driven by followers of Trumpism who feel Twitter and Facebook are being unkind to their cause...
Its growth is being driven by followers of Trumpism who feel Twitter and Facebook are being unkind to their cause...
We're experience the final divorcing of the 2 realities that exist in America.
Terrifying to think about tens of millions of Americans living in a siloed pseudo-reality where their basest instincts are validated, their beliefs are never challenged, & their fears are enflamed.
Terrifying to think about tens of millions of Americans living in a siloed pseudo-reality where their basest instincts are validated, their beliefs are never challenged, & their fears are enflamed.
A million essays have been written about the hate, division & in-fighting that exist on these social networks we've all inhabited...
But consider the alternative...
Followers of each political tribe existing "peacefully" in a digital ecosystem that devolves into a cauldron of confirmation bias...
Finally free from the tyranny of uncomfortable truths & the healthy debate required to sustain liberal democracy.
Followers of each political tribe existing "peacefully" in a digital ecosystem that devolves into a cauldron of confirmation bias...
Finally free from the tyranny of uncomfortable truths & the healthy debate required to sustain liberal democracy.
Years ago, demographers began to identify a new trend in American politics—people moving to cities/locations where they are surrounded by people who believe like them.
(There's a debate over whether this is intentional or not, but nevertheless, it's a very real thing...)
(There's a debate over whether this is intentional or not, but nevertheless, it's a very real thing...)
This new phenomenon has been dubbed "partisan geographic sorting."
We've been "sorting" ourselves into cozy little red and blue pockets for about the last 10-20 years.
We've been "sorting" ourselves into cozy little red and blue pockets for about the last 10-20 years.
From the Center of Politics at the University of Virginia...
While this sorting has happened geographically at scale, it's been much slower digitally.
Since the advent of Facebook in 2004, we've mostly all been tossed into the networks together—debating, fighting and shouting at one another across the political divides.
Since the advent of Facebook in 2004, we've mostly all been tossed into the networks together—debating, fighting and shouting at one another across the political divides.
Sure, a lot of this has been toxic.
But it's also been an incredible exercise in free speech and debate.
I've had countless beliefs challenged by arguments I've seen here on Twitter and elsewhere.
This is how free press in a democracy is supposed to work!
But now...
But it's also been an incredible exercise in free speech and debate.
I've had countless beliefs challenged by arguments I've seen here on Twitter and elsewhere.
This is how free press in a democracy is supposed to work!
But now...
We face a "great calving."
Americans breaking away from the traditional networks, going underground, and re-emerging in the most echo-y echo chambers ever created.
Americans breaking away from the traditional networks, going underground, and re-emerging in the most echo-y echo chambers ever created.
We are poised to see hyper-tribalism and demonization on a scale never before experienced in world history.
Americans living in hyper-liberal or hyper-conservative geographies will now be walled off from their ideological opposites on the internet as well.
"We fear what we do not understand" is a simple truth that will put our division into hyperdrive as understanding your neighbor will be completely choked out by the fear you have of them.
Or the "illegitimate fear you feel from lapping up the vitriol created by charlatans and bad actors," I should say...
Yes. This is what I'm talking about...
Facebook's been insanely friendly towards Trump's loyalists in rt-wing media. Each day, the most shared articles are almost always from the right.
Yet even the most basic fact-checking is perceived as an assault. https://twitter.com/YeahSoAnywho/status/1325848762040807425
Facebook's been insanely friendly towards Trump's loyalists in rt-wing media. Each day, the most shared articles are almost always from the right.
Yet even the most basic fact-checking is perceived as an assault. https://twitter.com/YeahSoAnywho/status/1325848762040807425
Listen, if Twitter becomes some kind of hyper-liberal militant hellscape where any conservative thought is disallowed, I'll be the first to depart.
But alas...
IT'S THE LITERAL OPPOSITE.
Conservative thought-leaders thrive on this website.
But alas...
IT'S THE LITERAL OPPOSITE.
Conservative thought-leaders thrive on this website.
Many of them owe the existence of their careers to this website!
(I'm looking at you Candace Owens, Matt Walsh, etc.)
(I'm looking at you Candace Owens, Matt Walsh, etc.)
These people have built enormous followings and make hundreds of thousands—if not MILLIONS—of dollars monetizing those audiences who eagerly spread their words and ideas to others.
(It's also worth noting they've done all this on Twitter FOR FREE.)
(It's also worth noting they've done all this on Twitter FOR FREE.)
SO yeah...
Miss me with the screeching about "censorship."
Miss me with the screeching about "censorship."
When a cop pulls you over for speeding, you aren't being "censored." You're being held to account for transgressing the law.
Similarly, when you get called out for spreading obvious lies, you aren't being censored. You're simply being held to account.
Similarly, when you get called out for spreading obvious lies, you aren't being censored. You're simply being held to account.
That's it...
Join whatever networks you want, people. It's a free country.
But I fear the frictionless "peace" that will exist once the right and left separate into their own cozy social networks could be an existential threat to American democracy
Join whatever networks you want, people. It's a free country.
But I fear the frictionless "peace" that will exist once the right and left separate into their own cozy social networks could be an existential threat to American democracy
