Big Education Ape: 11/01/2024

Saturday, November 30, 2024

ELON, WHY DID YOU KILL THE BIRD PART 1

ELON, WHY DID YOU KILL THE BIRD

THE FALL OF TWITTER AND THE RISE OF BLUESKY

Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant digital past, there was a little blue bird named Twitter. It chirped sweetly, delivering news, memes, and the occasional celebrity meltdown straight to our screens. It was the darling of the social media world, a place where journalists, politicians, activists, and armchair philosophers alike gathered to share their 280-character wisdom. But then, like a plot twist in a dystopian novel, Elon Musk swooped in and—well—killed the bird.

What followed was a transformation that no one asked for. Twitter morphed into “X,” a rebranding decision that left everyone scratching their heads. X? What does it stand for? X-rated? X-tra confusing? X-tinguishing its user base? Whatever the case, the platform's identity crisis was just the beginning of its woes under Musk’s reign.

A Promise of Free Speech… at What Cost?

When Elon Musk took over Twitter (sorry, X), he promised a utopia of free speech. “Free speech for all!” he declared, as if he were some kind of digital Robin Hood. But instead of robbing from the rich to give to the poor, he robbed Twitter of its credibility and gave conspiracy theorists and trolls a megaphone.

One of Musk’s first moves was to fire a significant chunk of the staff, including those responsible for moderating content and keeping fake news at bay. The result? A flood of misinformation, hate speech, and enough conspiracy theories to make your uncle at Thanksgiving seem reasonable. Ironically, Musk himself was dubbed the “Chief Liar” on his own platform by none other than AI systems he helped develop. Oh, the poetic justice.

And let’s not forget the algorithm changes. Instead of promoting truth and meaningful conversations, X’s algorithms seemed to favor hate, divisiveness, and whatever could get the most clicks—because nothing says “healthy discourse” like a trending hashtag about lizard people running the government.

From Stock Market Darling to Digital Dumpster Fire

When Musk bought Twitter for a cool $44 billion, many thought it was an overvalued vanity purchase. Turns out, they were right. The value of X’s stock plummeted faster than a SpaceX rocket with a faulty engine. Some speculated Musk didn’t mind because it made for a sweet tax write-off. But for the average user, the platform’s decline in quality was anything but sweet.

As X became increasingly chaotic, users began voting with their feet—or rather, their thumbs. They flocked to other platforms like Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky, leaving behind what was once the go-to app for breaking news and witty banter. It was like watching rats flee a sinking ship—except these rats had better options waiting for them.

Enter Bluesky: The New Digital Darling

Of all the alternatives to X, one platform has stood out as a beacon of hope: Bluesky. If X is the villain in this story, Bluesky is the scrappy underdog hero we didn’t know we needed.

So what makes Bluesky so great? For starters, it has the vibe of old-school Twitter but with some much-needed upgrades. It’s like someone took Twitter’s DNA, spliced out all the toxicity, and added features that actually empower users.

Here’s why Bluesky is winning hearts—and users—by the millions:

1. User-Centric Design

Bluesky is all about putting power back into the hands of its users. Unlike X’s algorithm-driven chaos, Bluesky allows you to customize your experience. Want a feed full of cat videos? Done. Prefer thoughtful discussions about climate change? You got it. The platform’s open protocol means you can choose from various feeds and algorithms, tailoring your experience to suit your interests.

2. Freedom Without the Free-for-All

While Musk’s version of “free speech” turned X into a cesspool of hate and misinformation, Bluesky strikes a balance. It fosters authentic interactions without becoming a breeding ground for trolls. It’s proof that you can have freedom of expression without sacrificing decency.

3. Interoperability

One of Bluesky’s most innovative features is its open protocol, which allows for interoperability between platforms. In plain English: if you decide to leave Bluesky (though why would you?), you can take your community with you. No more being held hostage by a walled-garden social media platform.

4. Lean and Mean

Despite its rapid growth—22 million users and counting—Bluesky operates with a team of just 20 employees. How do they manage? By leveraging scalable infrastructure and hiring people who actually know what they’re doing (a novel concept these days).

5. Continuous Improvement

Bluesky isn’t resting on its laurels. The platform is constantly rolling out new tools and features to enhance user experience. Feed builders? Check. Subscription options? Double check. It’s like they’re reading our minds—or at least our tweets.

The Exodus from X

The migration from X to Bluesky isn’t just about functionality; it’s about values. Many users were turned off by Musk’s overt support for right-wing politics and his reinstatement of controversial figures like Donald Trump. For those seeking a more inclusive and less polarizing environment, Bluesky has become the obvious choice.

And let’s be real: part of Bluesky’s appeal is that it feels like old Twitter—the version we fell in love with before it got tangled in Musk’s web of chaos. It’s nostalgic but better, like finding out your favorite childhood snack now comes in an organic, gluten-free version.

What’s Next for X?

As Bluesky continues to soar, X seems to be spiraling further into irrelevance. Musk may have grand visions for his platform—turning it into an “everything app” akin to China’s WeChat—but so far, those dreams seem as far-fetched as colonizing Mars by next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, users are making their voices heard by leaving X in droves. Whether they land on Threads, Mastodon, or Bluesky, one thing is clear: the bird may be dead, but social media isn’t going anywhere.

Final Thoughts

Elon Musk may have killed the bird, but in doing so, he inadvertently gave rise to something better. Bluesky represents what social media should be: user-centric, customizable, and free from the toxicity that has plagued platforms like X.

So here’s to Bluesky—a breath of fresh air in a digital landscape that desperately needed one. And as for X? Well, let’s just say it might want to start looking into rebranding again—this time as “Z,” because it’s heading straight to the end of the alphabet (and possibly relevance).

In the meantime, I’ll be over on Bluesky, enjoying my personalized feed of cat memes and thoughtful discussions about quantum physics. See you there!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLUESKY

BUT WAS AFRAID TO ASK

Bluesky COO says platform is focused on users not advertisers https://youtu.be/jOVJlrw8UM0?si=q-Jg4nSTssP_xd5o via @YouTube

Rose Wang, Bluesky COO: ‘People are tired of the algorithm deciding everything’ | Technology | EL PAÍS English https://english.elpais.com/technology/2024-11-26/rose-wang-bluesky-coo-people-are-tired-of-the-algorithm-deciding-everything.html

Big Education Ape: UPDATE: X-TWITTER BIRDS FLOCK TO BLUESKY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2024/11/x-twitter-birds-flock-to-bluesky.html

The exodus from X to Bluesky has happened – the era of mass social media platforms is over https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/15/x-bluesky-social-media-platforms

Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X https://apnews.com/article/x-bluesky-social-media-musk-trump-d78de194e0e85f803652b70b161a963b

How to get started on Bluesky, the app some X users are defecting to. Some people say they’re quitting Elon Musk’s X. For real this time https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/11/14/how-join-bluesky-handle-users-social-media/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzMxNTYwNDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzMyOTQyNzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MzE1NjA0MDAsImp0aSI6ImI2MjUyYTg4LWQ3NjUtNDI2My1iYTBlLThlMTUzNDQ5OTU5YiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS90ZWNobm9sb2d5LzIwMjQvMTEvMTQvaG93LWpvaW4tYmx1ZXNreS1oYW5kbGUtdXNlcnMtc29jaWFsLW1lZGlhLyJ9.nAm0x2qjy4SiF1opfYHe47S8JH248MeENQwldSAW8Wg

Sky Follower Bridge

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sky-follower-bridge/behhbpbpmailcnfbjagknjngnfdojpko?hl=en

Overview

Instantly find and follow the same users from your Twitter follows on Bluesky.

📝 Documentation

https://sky-follower-bridge-docs.vercel.app/

🚀 How to use

1. Open your Twitter Follower ( https://twitter.com/following ) or Follow( https://twitter.com/followers ) or block(https://twitter.com/settings/blocked/all) or list members page.

2. Press "Alt + B" shortcut or click on the toolbar icon to launch the Sky Follower Bridge.

3. Input your Bluesky login email or handle and app password( https://bsky.app/settings/app-passwords )

4. Press the Finding Bluesky Users btn.

5. The modal will open and detect Bluesky users.

6. The `View Detected users` will be displayed once the scan is complete.

7. Press the button to check the results, and then click the Follow button.

#EDUSKY ON BLUESKY