Thoughts & life experiences of a Chicago area graphic artist

06 February 2019

Long-gone Twitter founder: The platform is NOT 'Social Media'


"Jack who?" Twitter top-brass focus is now squarely on controversial billionaire Elon Musk.

But it's interesting to remember the intentions of the "Original Founder" Jack Dorsey (who is reportedly working on creating yet another "social media" platform) had in mind when the whole "Twit" thing began. NOTE: The following link goes to a paywall for the interview.

Original Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey
But I transcribed one of Dorsey's comments: 
"Twitter is not a social media platform," said Jack Dorsey in that informative interview with Sam Harris (see link above). "It is an interest-based platform."  I understand what he's talking about.

That is the only reason I can tolerate Twitter while Facebook, Instagram and other online media leave me cold. I follow people on Twitter that like stuff I like and do things I do: Cartooning, Art, Books, History, Progressive Politics. No apologies.

Here's another interesting concept from Dorseys interview with Harris:

Twitter Admin. use these 'Indicators of Conversational Health' to assess accounts.
1) Shared attention  - % of convo looking at the same thing
2) Shared reality - % sharing same facts
3) Receptivity
4) Variety of Perspective

Food for thought, eh?

I also like Sam Harris' comment idea of "Twitter as internet infrastructure".
It has become a crucial component of "The Internet Highway".

If you listen to the interview, look for these concepts:

'Weaponizing the Public Square' as a hazard (necessary evil?) of Twitter's format.

"We don't have a robust appeals process." -- Dorsey's admission at the bugs of their policy enforcement practices.

"We want to be leaders in 'explainability'" -- One of Dorsey's goals for Twitter

'Down Ranking' - Explained. I understand this as the Twitter admins way of putting the breaks on problematic comments.


AND a bit that came up while discussing why, oh why doesn't Twitter kick off Trump:

  • Exceptions to Twitter Content Violation Rules"
  • News Worthiness 
  • Public Interest 
  • A Record for open commentary and response 

These are just notes with not much commentary. The interview gave me a more well-rounded view of Dorsey. That includes enhanced respect and understanding of his vision and his purpose.

Ah, yes. And remember....

Reality Check UPDATE -- Twitter is hardly a social media powerhouse in any case:
 
The World's Most Popular Social Media -Chart
Source

 2021 UPDATE -- Gives new meaning to the term "Interest Media":

2022 UPDATEs:
 



And here's that blog's updated "Most-Used" chart:




No comments: