We’re sorry we missed this when it came out, but it just scrolled past in our Twitter timeline and we knew we had to share it. Writing in Salon, senior writer Amanda Marcotte says that Elon Musk “must be stopped,” and the best way to do that is to “socialize” Twitter. And by socialize, she literally means having the United States government buy Twitter and run it itself.
As Elon Musk continues to destroy Twitter in his quest to be the King of the Losers (which he was without Twitter!), I take a longer look on what it would take to save Twitter: Socialize the platform. Take the profit motive out of it. https://t.co/fKQMvbhpJT
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
So much of what makes Twitter a negative force in society is the profit motive. But take that out, by having the government buy and host it, and it would be a lot better of a service. pic.twitter.com/Zf6Wj0zPp5
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
The main objection to nationalizing Twitter is that a government-run service cannot legally ban bigots.
But Twitter doesn't really ban bigots. It boosts them into your timeline to make money. A government-run Twitter wouldn't do that. So they would go away on their own. pic.twitter.com/ee0iVHpS8j
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
One of the worst impacts of Twitter's profit motive is it incentivizes sanctimony, which makes a lot more money than cleverness or wit. Take profit out of it and Twitter might actually be fun again. pic.twitter.com/dZ8OPmrgdH
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
A nationalized Twitter would be able to simplify the verification system. It would no longer be about whether your employer vouched for you. It would just be about attaching your account to existing documentation (if you want). pic.twitter.com/xyobvOxwai
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
A government-run Twitter could also have a lot less fraud and crypto shilling on it, because that's something the federal government has legal powers to do: Shut off fraud. pic.twitter.com/1rY8WkqtU0
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
Finally, "influencers" selling snake oil through thirst traps and body shaming would lose a lot of power. Like racists and sanctimonious activists, they depend on lizard brain impact, which we can remove by removing profit motive. pic.twitter.com/XokwmOLdX4
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
People claim they want Twitter to be about community and information. Instead, because of the profit-driven algorithm, instead people spend all day being provoked by trolls.
But take the money out of it, and it could be what we all say we want from it. pic.twitter.com/uoeNTghB8G
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
Deep down inside, you and I know your mental health is not served well by being bombarded by trolls, thirst traps, and other accounts that are boosted by the algorithm in order to keep you addicted.
But as long as it's about profit, Twitter will be bad for you.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
I agree with this. In fact, if I find myself clicking the latest Elon troll, I block the first dozen fanboys under it for the hell of it. https://t.co/1Et402PZ69
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
But the reason we need to talk about big solutions instead of minor and individualized tweaks is this: Until we start imagining a better world, we can’t even step on the path that could take us to it.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
Getting lots of people who didn't read the article arguing back that the solution is a non-profit, not a government-run service. Anyone who's been on Mastodon can already see how that will fail. The lack of funds make the site weird and hard to manage.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
The one thing capitalism gives platforms is cash, which allows them to hire people and build out infrastructure. Government can fund this. Volunteer-heavy non-profits cannot.
Plus, if you actually read the article, you'll see that a big benefit is not making everyone switch.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
"Sign up for one of these inferior competitors" is not a solution. "It's still the same Twitter, with your same followers and account, but a new owner who is not beholden to advertisers" is a solution.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) November 21, 2022
OK, that’s just stupid. In case you skipped over the excerpts above, Marcotte writes:
Of course, there is one way Twitter could be saved: By actually making it the “digital town square” Musk says he wants it to be. Which is to say the government should buy and run Twitter, just as government owns and operates actual town squares. Yes, I’m talking about a “socialist” takeover of Twitter, just like we have “socialist” libraries, schools and museums.
A nationalized Twitter would solve the current dilemma: the contradictory goals of running a network that protects free speech while also being socially responsible and profitable. Take away the profit motive and so much of what makes Twitter a deleterious force in society would disappear.
…
… The anti-LGBTQ hate account Libs of Tik Tok has 1.5 million followers, even though it only exists to stir up violent hatred against marginalized people.
That’s because, to quote tech journalist Kara Swisher, “Enragement equals engagement.” Racists and trolls attract attention because people like to argue with them and retweet them for dunking purposes. The algorithm then pushes the gross tweets further, because all that negative attention means people are spending more time on the platform and therefore making the company more money. Advertisers may not like users saying the N-word. But people who know how to trigger the liberals while not quite crossing the line into overt slurs — think Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., or professional trolls like Glenn Greenwald — make the site money. Misinformation also gets a boost, because arguing with it boosts engagement numbers.
So again … just to make sure we have this straight … the government should buy and run Twitter, as it would a museum or library.
Fascist (those are your rules, aren’t they?)
— Drew Matich (@drewmatich) November 29, 2022
Nah, you just want to be in charge.
— Tom in FL (@thomasa56) November 29, 2022
Actual loser has thoughts on dude who literally builds rockets.
— TopJimmy (@jp23mc) November 29, 2022
Because we can trust the same people who have been secretly back-channeling government censorship on the platform to refrain from direct censorship if given the reins to direct that same platform.
I’ve got some swampland to sell you in FL, if you’re interested.
— *sigh* Really? (@lyons8804) November 29, 2022
you really don't understand free speech as a principle.
— RebelWrapt (@StatesRe) November 29, 2022
Why does Twitter need to be saved? If it sucks as bad as you think under Musk's leadership, let it fail. Then some utopian, leftist controlled, free speech stifling alternative can rise in its place.
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸Keith J.🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@BlackMagic63) November 29, 2022
Why does America need Twitter so badly that it should own and run it?
Nationalizing private companies is communism, you freak.
— Mawam+, American Dissident (@BuyBowling) November 29, 2022
Hey look, another fascist.
— Mr. Santoro (@theSaintedBull) November 29, 2022
Man, free speech really makes you knuckleheads nervous.
— 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 9kidsbob 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@9kidsbob) November 29, 2022
Awwww so mad Elon bought your weapon
— Tex Mex (@mextex360) November 29, 2022
Just build your own Twitter.
— Adventure Has A Name (@adventurehasana) November 29, 2022
The very Leftists who defended free speech censorship on the grounds that "private companies" have that right !! Are now calling for Twitter to be nationalized because its owner @elonmusk is safeguarding free speech on his platform.
— 🇺🇸 (@Ngashi79Tex) November 29, 2022
You are a complete nutball. If he is a loser then I don’t know what winning is. Between SpaceX and Tesla ..I would say he is very much winning.
— Out of sorts Horta (@ButlerFlagman) November 29, 2022
LOL … this editor literally laughed out loud reading her piece — and he never laughs. What happens when President DeSantis cleans house at the Department of Social Media and takes over and implements a “Don’t Say Gay” policy?
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Related:
Alyssa Milano slams Elon Musk for allowing such brazen ‘copywrite infringement’ on Twitter https://t.co/HsuFseqJCo
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 29, 2022
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