There were rumors that Twitter was considering getting rid of the Like button.
That probably won't happen, but the fact that the people who run Twitter would even consider this as part of a solution to Twitter's problems is bad news.
That probably won't happen, but the fact that the people who run Twitter would even consider this as part of a solution to Twitter's problems is bad news.
Twitter's problem is that it's a swamp of negativity and vitriol.
Twitter is so negativistic that people assume that replies are going to be negative, adversarial commentary.
(More often than not, they're right.)
(More often than not, they're right.)
The most vicious, harmful manifestation of Twitter's negativity is the harassment that is pervasive on this platform.
Twitter harassment is so legendary that Amnesty International released a report about it!
amnesty.org/en/latest/rese…
amnesty.org/en/latest/rese…
Case in point: Cesar Sayoc, the mail bomber, harassed people on Twitter and got away with it. The people who run Twitter didn't even see fit to delete his threatening tweets!
Why don't the people in charge of Twitter do more to stop negativity and harassment?
Because they're more worried about "echo chambers".
They see negativity and (some) harassment as a valuable way to pierce ideological echo chambers and present alternative viewpoints.
Because they're more worried about "echo chambers".
They see negativity and (some) harassment as a valuable way to pierce ideological echo chambers and present alternative viewpoints.
That sounds nuts, and it is nuts. But is it just a cover for a desire not to lose users? Would kicking harassers and assholes off of Twitter send user numbers plunging?
I don't know, but it's not like Twitter's user growth is particularly impressive as things stand!
I don't know, but it's not like Twitter's user growth is particularly impressive as things stand!
Those stagnant user numbers might be a big reason the company's stock is still below its IPO price:
Besides simply banning a lot more harassers and removing more tweets, what can Twitter do to reduce negativity and harassment?
I have some ideas.
Idea #1: If I block a user, his tweets should no longer be visible to third parties in the replies to my tweets.
I have some ideas.
Idea #1: If I block a user, his tweets should no longer be visible to third parties in the replies to my tweets.
As things stand, if a Nazi responds to a tweet of mine with "Into the ovens, kike!!", even if I block him, everyone else who reads the thread will still see "Into the ovens, kike!!" And everyone who retweets my original tweet is therefore forcing more people to see that tweet.
Second, users should be able to lock individual tweets. This will instantly kill the "dogpile" problem.
Third, Twitter should have a built-in function for seeing everyone who has quote-tweeted you.
This will prevent the "screamer" tactic that Nazis use to direct their mobs of harassers.
This will prevent the "screamer" tactic that Nazis use to direct their mobs of harassers.
Twitter isn't just hurting people's emotional and mental health - it's hurting America, and our whole society.
Time to stop worrying about "echo chambers" and start cleaning up the hate.
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Time to stop worrying about "echo chambers" and start cleaning up the hate.
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