Read on Twitter
That Raab taking a knee / GoT thing is reprehensible but also, he MUST know exactly what he's doing, so for every outraged leftie sharing the clip, you're literally just doing what he wants you to do.
Amplifying the trolling and ensuring it gets the widest possible audience.
Amplifying the trolling and ensuring it gets the widest possible audience.
The amount of absolute shithousery that gets RT'd and Liked onto my timeline, oof.
Social media algorithms have a lot in common with right-wing provocateurs: all they're interested in is volume of engagement. Doesn't matter if it's positive or negative. Attention = success.
Social media algorithms have a lot in common with right-wing provocateurs: all they're interested in is volume of engagement. Doesn't matter if it's positive or negative. Attention = success.
So when you follow the professional trolls - to do what, keep an eye on them? - you're adding to their engagement. You're telling twitter they're the 'best' content and should be weighted (and rewarded) accordingly. Outraged quote-tweeting is the same.
I've seen people say it's tone-policing to tell people who not to follow. I can see that. But if you, for example, really want to know what Rowling is up to without totally alienating all your trans friends, use a fricking private list. (Or even better, don't do that either.)
If you really want to express outrage at some ghoulish Tory being horrend, do it without spreading the original content like a virus.
If you really want to stop misinformation, post a rebuttal without also RTing the original misinformation.
If you really want to stop misinformation, post a rebuttal without also RTing the original misinformation.
If you really want to literally do the Mail's job for them by sending everyone a link to their article which they only wrote as a means to generate ad-revenue from hate-clicks, maybe reconsider.
Basically the rule of thumb is this.
Would the terrible person you're tweeting about / RTing WANT you to do that? For the oxygen of publicity? To generate clicks? To spread falsehood? To distract from wider and more signficant Govt failings?
If the answer is yes, don't do it.
Would the terrible person you're tweeting about / RTing WANT you to do that? For the oxygen of publicity? To generate clicks? To spread falsehood? To distract from wider and more signficant Govt failings?
If the answer is yes, don't do it.
The right are so much better at all this than the left. And it is set up much better for them anyhow. We all have to actively consider the impact of our online responses to things (and I very much include myself in that as I mess it up too).
