I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement.
-
Hypothesis:
One purpose of algorithm-driven social media is to create and reward clout, thus giving those sorts of people what they need so that they stick around.
@passenger it definitely is
-
@urlyman i still remember one of the "a-list" web design starlets at the time opining on how "the vibes are off" on masto and they decided to go all in on bluesky ... and it just felt more like "people aren't giving me enough deference/respect on masto! i was a STAR on twitter! respect my authority!"
@patrick_h_lauke ugh. Fuck that shit
-
@Gillinger very few, for sure
-
Looking back over the last 10 years of social media, I do have to say that 'authoritative voices' have not really helped all that much. I have found a lot more authority and knowledge and just plain wisdom from the 'nobodies', personally.
I guess when people were used to a professional clique on twitter and have to find a new one, it has to be frustrating. But isn't that what something like discord is for?
@Remittancegirl agreed.
I know it’s probably an over-simplification but I think quite often about how indigenous cultures developed techniques for suppressing egotistical bullshit and lasted tens of thousands of years and how algorithmic media is the opposite
-
…Also, if memory serves me right, I have never encountered a conventionally climate sceptic person on here.
There are lots of green growthers but I’ve never had an exchange with someone who doubts basic climate science.
I mention this because I’m surprised that Katharine got the degree of push back on Mastodon that she graphed just over a year ago, but then I’m a man so I don’t have to put up with the many reply guys there are here
@urlyman Why should I reply to this one? Oh, I just did that? Shee...
-
@Remittancegirl agreed.
I know it’s probably an over-simplification but I think quite often about how indigenous cultures developed techniques for suppressing egotistical bullshit and lasted tens of thousands of years and how algorithmic media is the opposite
@urlyman I don't think that is an oversimplification at all, actually. It addresses the structural aspect of the discourse.
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman yeah I got that vibe too. BlueSky was more diverse, though, but god it sucked. Such a toxic platform. Basically 2019 Twitter.
-
…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
@urlyman It seems like another "Talk At" platform vs. a "Talk To" platform.
I am here to talk to people. -
@urlyman yeah I got that vibe too. BlueSky was more diverse, though, but god it sucked. Such a toxic platform. Basically 2019 Twitter.
@DarthAstrius after several months my overwhelming feeling was disappointment: that it was like speaking into a void, and yet so many were enraptured by its ‘stickiness’
-
-
…Also, if memory serves me right, I have never encountered a conventionally climate sceptic person on here.
There are lots of green growthers but I’ve never had an exchange with someone who doubts basic climate science.
I mention this because I’m surprised that Katharine got the degree of push back on Mastodon that she graphed just over a year ago, but then I’m a man so I don’t have to put up with the many reply guys there are here
@urlyman I am a woman scientist. Reply guys are everywhere. At least on Mastodon, it's easy to add a personal note on their profile the first time they're obnoxious, and then block them the second time. And if they really cross the line, report them to their server and they actually face consequences.
-
@urlyman I am a woman scientist. Reply guys are everywhere. At least on Mastodon, it's easy to add a personal note on their profile the first time they're obnoxious, and then block them the second time. And if they really cross the line, report them to their server and they actually face consequences.
@hydropsyche I wish you didn’t have to face them, but I’m pleased the ecosystem is better at addressing them
-
…There was a while in 2024 where I was frustrated that Mastodon didn’t have the breadth of politics that Twitter in its prime had, and thought that that was a bit unhealthy. I did enjoy the jostling with very different views.
So when BlueSky opened up I thought I’d have a look. But just as there are ideas we should embrace (e.g. degrowth) but our current culture *cannot* select, people who like to be among the ‘somebodies’ don’t want to be here. It’s just not for them.
Note that…
@urlyman bsky feels mostly "libertarian/status quo" to me, while masto leans more towards "socialist/anarchic" (with the pinch of salt of "it'll depend on who you follow" etc of course)
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman Very much so. The human mind seems to gravitate far too much towards those in the spotlight, ignoring lots of great stuff in the shadows.
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman in my field, people made the Xodus right after the election and the Bsky handles started popping up after presentations. I personally never understood the love for Twitter, it's inundated w/ bots, and now Bsky just appeals as a Twitter copy in its inevitable prenazification phase.
There's a lot less engagement on Mastodon, and the federation of comments is quite clunky. But it takes me back to the internet before The Algorithm, and I'd rather interact with 5 humans, than argue w bots.
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
I use open vibe and connect to Bluesky, Nostr, and Mastodon in one app. They just added Tumblr.
It's a good solution -
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
I go back and forth in most places, as a random unknown. I'm not a very social person but I don't have anyone to talk to offline. So I really do need social media, or I'll lose my mind.
BS is absolute chaos, I never understand how to use it.
But here, every time without fail I can jump into a conversation on my first day, and people reply or fav (as read receipts) my words. And I don't have to think most of them are bots, so it makes me feel seen.
-
I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman I hop between Mastodon and Bluesky. Personally I find value in them both.
There are a lot more big accounts posting on Bluesky, but I enjoy the slower paced more community-based interactions of Mastodon. I also like that Mastodon allows for a lot more nuance with larger character limits even getting into more long form posts (such as the OP which is fairly long and would have been a lengthy thread on bsky) which makes for better discussions.
In my experience Bluesky is better for low-effort short posts and broadcasting from large accounts to a wider audience whereas Mastodon is better for nuanced discussions and has a more level playing field between large and small accounts.
