Om Malik

So Shall You Reap, Donna Leon

A new post explaining the why of removing the "block" feature on the dead bird network. It is part of what is so common in tech --half-truths in data to show growth and reach. New artwork was created with Adobe Firefly, Midjourney & Photoshop.

....how weird it feels in the internet as a whole to have some transparency and communication between site developers and the userbase. When I joined tumblr, forum culture and the heyday of the early creator-run internet were fresh memories. Staff who posted like users were common, and popular demand was the actual goal of web design. But now there is no social media where the developers speak directly to the users and incorporate real feedback into the changes they make. Algorithms drive everything, moderation happens silently, and it's impossible to tell what a human has laid eyes on. Decisions are made based on what can get the most eyes on sponsored ads and drive clicks. Social media is now Big Tech, driven by Big Money Decisions and ad space.

Having a staff who talks and listens to the userbase is a direct return to tumblr's roots and also the most jarring and noticeable jump back to Classic Internet that the rest of social media has long since abandoned.

The podcast boom that raged during the pandemic lockdown is starting to fade. Listen Notes data points out that the number of new shows in 2022 will be around, vs. 709,000 produced in 2021. guess we are all doing more things in more places. (via)

When we look at photographs, the perspective is determined by what was the dominant imaging technology of their age. The most obvious example for this is photographic film: Starting out in black and white, later turning into color, the whims of film manufacturers determined the chromatics of an entire era. The same is true for cameras and camera lenses.

With our words and our social presence, we can be anything – the choice is ours. One can be: • An idiotic version of yourself. • A fake version of yourself. • Or an authentic version of yourself.