I deleted my Twitter/X account a couple of weeks ago. After being on the site for fourteen years, I admit that it was difficult to let go. Mine wasn’t a huge account, with only a few thousand followers, but Twitter had been good to me. It helped me forge professional contacts, share some writing, even get invited to conferences and be interviewed by journalists. And of course there was some time to follow news, goof off, and just interact with people around the world.
However, after the change of ownership to Elon Musk, the site seemed to change for the worse, with an increase in ethnic slurs and hate speech, and a decrease in oversight. There appears to be an exodus of academics from Twitter, as networks gradually deteriorated and the algorithm seemed to sideline old voices in favor of more sensational, even hate-filled tweets. The journal Nature mentioned one analysis which found that a handful of controversial, previously obscure, accounts that Musk personally recommended or interacted with had exploded in popularity after only a year.
I know there are many more important issues than this. Some friends suggested I stay there and “take up space,” make your voice known, etc. Knowing the old maxim about the Internet, “If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold,” ultimately I felt ethically torn by remaining there and being a product for a site that was going in a direction I disagreed with. So, I guess that’s that.
Patrick F. Clarkin, Ph.D. 
Patrick, gotcha, and spot on about it all. I have just yesterday started to spend my time on bluesky, still punishment hurts and I have just found an mastodon server, neurodifferent.me for the divergent, I suppose Iâll share my blogs there for now, same name, not finding any competition for it. Yes, feels like FB at bluesky, itâs a terrible downgrade so far. Terrible times, itâs been nice meeting you.
Jeff
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Whups, punishmenthurts, no space
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Hi Patrick. I am so sorry that you had to take this decision. You and I are an example of how twitter used to be helpful and a connector among like-minded people. I agree it’s decaying significantly and I barely post anything at all. I am still sticking around mostly because of inertia, and having many other things to do but I am considering all options. Did you move to any other alternative platforms or is your blog your only digital presence now?
took you long enough (<)) Patrick, you have long forgotten me, I am sure. I did enjoy the bantering back and forth, especially since I had my kids auction off my snow shovel. I still have my little website and daily blog with my pictures. Sales have been spectacular after several changes in equipment and other things,
Have a great Holiday Season. You can still send me your articles and/or email me at: editorialphotos@att.net. The emial is no longer associated with my website, https:dallaspaparazzo,com Larrydallaspaparazzo.com I’m the guy who lost my son, Kevin (your brother’s name also) Kevin, 27,has been gone some 26 years already.
Tootles!