Bluesky, an alternative social media platform to X — formerly known as Twitter — has experienced a large surge in users as Democrats, including a number of prominent figures on the left, announced …
Respectfully, no, just no. Outside of tiny isolated communities. There has never been this much tight hegemonic control over thoughts and opinions. Only now it’s not just small isolated towns. It’s Nationwide if not global. LLMs making it exponentially worse already.
Federation isn’t some newfangled thing that we are only just now trying for the first time either. The internet used to be Federated. The news and media used to be Federated. This is a return to form. Not a revolution or an experiment.
Before the mid 2000s. It was extremely unusual for the majority of people online or otherwise to visit a single news site or media source. Or at least sources all centrally controlled by the same group. Shaping opinions facts and ultimately reality.
Papers used to be owned by separate families and largely local. Competing in their local markets to be the most trusted and reliable. Local stations used to be local. Owned local, run local. Not all owned by clear channel or Sinclair. Even network affiliates were only “network” in terms of national news segments and syndicated/prime time entertainment programs. But starkly owned and operated locally. Their reputation their currency.
Shit it’s creeping closer and closer to 30 years. It’s entirely possible for you to be to young to remember or understand at this point. And that’s no shade.
Not that federation or anything is an ultimate solution either. But would you rather have your reality and community controlled by the media. Or your media controlled by your community and hopefully reality.
Respectfully, no, just no. Outside of tiny isolated communities. There has never been this much tight hegemonic control over thoughts and opinions. Only now it’s not just small isolated towns. It’s Nationwide if not global. LLMs making it exponentially worse already.
Federation isn’t some newfangled thing that we are only just now trying for the first time either. The internet used to be Federated. The news and media used to be Federated. This is a return to form. Not a revolution or an experiment.
Before the mid 2000s. It was extremely unusual for the majority of people online or otherwise to visit a single news site or media source. Or at least sources all centrally controlled by the same group. Shaping opinions facts and ultimately reality.
Papers used to be owned by separate families and largely local. Competing in their local markets to be the most trusted and reliable. Local stations used to be local. Owned local, run local. Not all owned by clear channel or Sinclair. Even network affiliates were only “network” in terms of national news segments and syndicated/prime time entertainment programs. But starkly owned and operated locally. Their reputation their currency.
Shit it’s creeping closer and closer to 30 years. It’s entirely possible for you to be to young to remember or understand at this point. And that’s no shade.
Not that federation or anything is an ultimate solution either. But would you rather have your reality and community controlled by the media. Or your media controlled by your community and hopefully reality.