Today, I came off the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. (I can’t bring myself to call it by its current name. It sounds more like a porn channel than a social networking site.)
It’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it made me feel better, especially after two of three accounts I run for clients were also deactivated over the last few days.
I’m keeping the third one for now, although I won’t be updating very much.
In the early years, Twitter was a great way of networking. We even had ‘Tweet Ups’ locally in West Dorset, where we put faces to our avatars. People were a little disappointed I looked nothing like the flaxen-haired Spirit of Bridport but, despite that, some firm friendships were forged.
However, in recent years, with a change of ownership and emphasis, the platform has become increasingly useless for me. And the latest brouhaha surrounding comments made by its owner about the appalling riots we’ve just had in the UK made me feel very uncomfortable.
It was time I was off.
I’m still on Facebook and Instagram and also LinkedIn. These spaces have their faults and, if you listen to the BBC’s disinformation reporter Marianna Spring’s frightening podcast, Why Do You Hate Me? and the equally terrifying The Gatekeepers, by Jamie Bartlett, you’ll understand why we need to be worried.
As Facebook turned 20 this year, Bartlett ‘uncovers how social media allowed a new digital elite and their platforms to conquer the planet and control what we see.’
It’s worth a listen if you’ve ever wondered how this unregulated thing grew into such a monster.
For now, I am staying on Instagram and sharing content about old Hollywood, 70s and 80s bands, comedy sketches from This Country and The Fast Show, and the odd talking dog. And I will remain on Facebook and try to be better at curating my Maddie Grigg page with regular status updates for my followers.
LinkedIn is a great way of keeping in touch with business trends and people in the same line of business. It’s just a shame it seems to be open to attempts by hackers to hijack accounts
I’m not completely ready to wander off and out into the wilderness, but the prospect of getting away from inane and unkind chatter is very tempting to say the least.
Maddie Grigg 
