The Social Network

Can you still connect in a digital age?

Reddit is dying. Twitter is dead. Facebook has been a husk. Discord has no archival features and has started the shift to profit. Groomers also have infiltrated the platform in the same way they infiltrated AOL Chat Rooms. Facebook owns Instagram and Threads and we already know they are disseminating right wing propaganda.

I recently uninstalled Facebook on my phone, because I had 4 ads for every post. It’s a shame, because Facebook could provide a healthy organizational platform for people. Any time one of these platforms becomes a home for people to connect, a wedge is hammered in.

It is ironic, to me, that people complain social media is driving the division in Americans. That division is encouraged by platforms because it increases engagement, but the underlying issue tends to be a person’s core beliefs. People now have access to information and tools that help them confront regressive ideologies.

There is growing concern amongst Redditors that the capitalist machine has ground the freedom of the internet to dust. Right wing propaganda weaponizes their own crimes by inflaming a religious movement who don’t take the time to question the source or the information. They rely on people who won’t use those tools or information and it works. Anytime a new source of information in the war against oppression comes out, we see this.

Even the church has been infiltrated. A place that was used to organize and connect is once again a breeding ground for hatred and animosity.

We’re doing something a little different. It’s going to take some time, but we’re going to start hosting events regularly at our house. I know people won’t come immediately, any good thing takes time to build an audience. The best way to get through to people is to connect with them personally.

We’re hosting a movie night tonight. A board game pot luck later this month. Hopefully we will continue those monthly, except for November which has suddenly gotten very busy. We’re going to Belgium for two weeks (!!!) and San Francisco for a week over Thanksgiving.

I need to get my house ready, so today is a quick note. Also, GameNerdz NerdzDay sale is today! We’re watching two Miyazaki movies tonight! I’m very excited, because Adrianne has never seen Princess Mononoke.