Pay attention.

[gardengeek@mstdn.social]

@collectifission

one of the early replies has a version with alt-text

[arrrg@kolektiva.social]

@lyndamerry484 We talk about it all the time, but as was stated, we don't control the means to mass communicate. So my little group of a couple hundred people might be dialed in to what's happening, but there are hundreds of millions of people who have no clue what is going on.

[kolya@social.cologne]

@lyndamerry484 American billionaires control Tiktok? This is news to me.

[pa27@mastodon.social]

@lyndamerry484 Well, I don't use or watch any of those....

[gardengeek@mstdn.social]

@fname

Re: news outlets,
It's dire that big media has all been co-opted by the right wing. Yet, there are so many amazing, brave, excellent independent news orgs out there, needing and deserving support. As well as independent journalists, social critics, and others with individual forums (blogs, etc).
I think the age of media conglomerates is dying, and it's a beautiful and exciting landscape for independent journalism! They need our support.

@lyndamerry484

[gardengeek@mstdn.social]

@fname

>age of media conglomerates is dying

Sorry, that was poor phrasing on my part. Not "dying" per se (as conglomerates will continue to conglomerate), but in the death knells. Their product will be right-leaning "infotainment." Some people like consuming that, but anyone in search of actual news and truth does not. Any real journalists will continue to bail/ be fired. Those companies will probably keep some number of bleary-eyed consumers who love infotainment. not me!

@lyndamerry484

[hiltibrant@mastodon.social]

@lyndamerry484 That's the real problem:

[realgene@hachyderm.io]

@lyndamerry484
Now with Alt-Text!

[naturemc@mastodon.online]

@ClintonAnderson @lyndamerry484

[ocrbot@kolektiva.social]

@NatureMC
a Melanie D‘Arrigo @​
A i @​DarrigoMelanie

Trump’s billionaire allies will now own CNN,
Fox News, CBS, WaPo, WSJ and NY Post —
plus 185+ local tv stations and news in 100
markets.

They also control X, Facebook, Instagram,
Threads, WhatsApp, TikTok, Truth and
Twitch.

They control the Al you're integrating into
your lives, the algorithms feeding you
content, and your personal data you've
given up for access.

This is all by design to manipulate and
surveil us, and we’re not talking enough

about it.

Pay attention.

[hypolite@friendica.mrpetovan.com]

@Kierkegaanks @lyndamerry484 One of the great feature and also one of its major pain points is that you can't buy the network wholesale, and any attempt would result in a carved-in isolated network like Truth.social.

Still, Mastodon is on borrowed time but not from threat of buyout, but rather by regulating it into oblivion with the social media age restriction policies that have cropped up in the UK and in many other places.

[kierkegaanks@beige.party]

@lyndamerry484 @hypolite yes i think it will be torpedoed by legal corruption

[icanbob@techhub.social]

@fname @lyndamerry484 The only real choice we have is to not give them our eyes and ears. Without eyes and ears there can be no ad revenue. Without ad revenue the media businesses are not viable. We just need to collectively stop watching and listening.

[jdeisenberg@tech.lgbt]

@RealGene @lyndamerry484 Thank you for adding #AltText

[suedioh@mastodon.social]

@lyndamerry484 I I do not subscribe to nor will I click on or boost stories from CNN, Fox, CBS, WaPo, WSJ and NY Post. (sometimes I mess up if the headline is compelling.)
I do not have a presence on X, Facebook, Insta, Threads, WhatsApp, TikTok, Truth or Twitch.
It's so easy, folks. Take back your lives.

[garybrazzell@mastodon.social]

@RantingCanuck @tokyo_0 @lyndamerry484 @freequaybuoy BBC News America?

[tokyo_0@mas.to]

@RantingCanuck Thanks. I already do most of those things... individual action does have meaning, but personally I don't think it'll be enough to counteract systematic issues like the hollowing out of American newsrooms over the past few decades or the new ownership of CNN. I'd like to be wrong about that, so will keep paying attention
@lyndamerry484 @freequaybuoy

[tokyo_0@mas.to]

@garybrazzell You could do worse. PBS is still hanging in there, though, and NPR. BBC World Service is still decent (their UK coverage less so). DW do some good English-language programming. Al Jazeera tends to be strong, although has its own biases. If you want an extremely calm presentation of the world's disintegration, NHK World offers English-language coverage (again, biases—but the major stuff gets covered).
@RantingCanuck @lyndamerry484 @freequaybuoy

[garybrazzell@mastodon.social]

@lyndamerry484 Here's how to save Democracy. Remember what Bush tried to teach us. "It's the economy, stupid." Campaign on saving democracy and win the college-educated vote. But the people who actually change their votes from time to time get their news at the grocery store. Neglect them. Lose elections.

[dexter@bsd.network]

@lyndamerry484 An attempt at Soviet-style central propaganda in the place that invented the Internet and most alternative communication media. Some will fall for it but many simply route around it.

Such a waste of money that will leave empty husks of formerly-OK properties.

#ETTD