Twitter

That Elon Musk news is wild, right? $44 billion for Twitter, talk about next-level moves! And you're right about social media – it's like having a conversation with a big crowd. Some folks dig it, others not so much.Speaking of social media, it's a treasure trove of cool stuff. I once stumbled upon this hilarious thread that had me cracking up for days.As for Twitter, I've dabbled a bit, but not a hardcore user. You know, it's all about what vibes with you. Have you ever thought about beefing up your online presence? I heard that it's possible to buy old twitter accounts – it might be worth checking out to connect with more folks.

Some of the Facebook pages and groups about specific interests/hobbies can be useful. Some of the Facebook groups are 'members only', which can be good because it tends to deter the trolls.

I've started using FB a lot, but it's mainly 'cos i'm learning to paint, so i joined a few pages where people post art that they've done. And i've been going to the hospital 'cos i have CKD, and have joined a couple of FB pages to get tips from others about diet etc. But up to now, i've not been posting, only reading.

I would agree that Facebook can be horrific. There are so many sponsored ads too, which makes it worse. These days, I mainly tend to use it for Messenger.

I agree with your last paragraph Coffee Guy. I've had people I wasn't friends with at school send me friend requests. My first thought tends to be, "Why?... Have they got me confused with someone else?" If I receive friend requests on Facebook from people I don't personally know, my response is to automatically reject them.

This is a question I have too. I say that I’m not on any social media (I agree with your summary of Facebook in particular) but then the question of whether this forum counts crept in. 

I never understood why people felt the need to add individuals that they either never spoke to or were unkind to in the past, rather just adding on the basis of knowing that person vaguely. The idea of school reunions also puzzles me for this exact reason too.

Actually I am on a forum or two and Discord so maybe those count as Social media? Not sure. 

I dont want to be on social media (as in having an account) though I do like Twitter as something I can look in on via Twitter Search. Its format at least makes sense to me - the vertical stacking of a chronologically emerging stories, reactions to them, etc. A good way to stay in touch with the global zeitgeist in small doses while not having to be locked into personal involvement in it.

Facebook on the other hand looks horrific and I avoid at all costs. The way it’s ‘wall’ splurges out in every direction, and obliges contact with people you’d cross the street to avoid in real life. How do the majority bear it? Life’s too short for the unrelenting grimness of it, and the continuous comparisons and keeping up it seems to want to prescribe for us all. at the same time I appreciate that it’s existence is inevitable- an evolutionary step along the way to something healthier in the future - no, not the meta verse! At least not it’s present or near-future form, something thousands of years off and as yet not within our ability to fully grasp or articulate. 

I tried it on two separate occasions, but came off quite quickly both times.  There are some interesting and funny people on it, but also a lot of opinionated and often rude people too.  Even if I could avoid the trolls and the arguments, I felt it was just taking up too much time for me.  I doubt many people have actually changed their minds about something important as a result of reading Twitter arguments; it just seems to be people hurling abuse and preaching to the converted.

I think one of the drawbacks with many social media platforms is that it can almost seem like a popularity contest. There are so many users that seem to get obsessed with how many followers and 'likes' they can get.

It is true that many people in the public eye do use Twitter, along with numerous brand-name businesses. I'm not sure if it's changed, but I know that there was certainly a character limit. 

I tried it once, several years ago, but I found it too much to keep on top of.

I can also struggle with making my points concise at times, so the character limit was an extra challenge that sometimes proved too much (this may have changed, or I may even have got the wrong social media platform altogether here- if so please ignore this part of my comment).

This is the only online social type thing I use and it took a lot of build up for me to finally start posting. But it felt like I’d fit in a little more here, than the huge and confusing world of Twitter.

Also, I know of people who use Twitter to argue with others, which I think backs up the idea mentioned earlier in this thread of it feeling like quite a combative place to be.

That said, I can also see it also potentially being a useful place to visit if you are wanting to hear updates from people working in certain industries and sectors- however, not being a user, I can’t confirm this

I used Twitter a lot for a while but I’ve reduced that to very little now as I found it quite depressing, it’s very combative and there’s so much negativity on Twitter. I prefer Instagram now as it’s more positive and more enjoyable.

I am encouraged to use Twitter for work (#AcademicTwitter) but I rarely look at it or post. It is to my great surprise that I managed to get 100 followers I often feel a bit left out when I see my colleagues with 1000s of followers... and that they will follow people indiscriminately. 

Twitter like tiktok is awful and kinda toxic. i would avoid it as many twits tweet.

I do have a mobile phone Cullpepper, which I had felt compelled to buy when my dad was terminally ill (in case of emergencies). It's an incredibly basic PAYG mobile. I'm 'old school'... if I want to access the internet, I'll use my computer, and if I want to take photos I'll use my digital camera. As for phone calls, I have a landline phone with built-in answer machine.

I dislike the assumption these days that EVERYONE has a smartphone, and that EVERYONE also has a driving licence and/or passport.

I didn't know that, about Musk being autistic. When you think of all the business meetings and interviews he has, it must be hard for him at times.

I've got a mobile Sparkley, but i went as long as i could without one, and  i feel that i was almost forced to get it. Places like banks, and even doctors & hospitals want to contact you by mobile to confirm your identity. I've asked couldn't they email me or phone my landline and they say it's not possible, their sysrems don't allow it. So i've only ever used the text, i've never spoken . When i go the shops, i take my phone, in case there was an emergency, but not sure who i'd phone if there was one.

I tend to just watch Twitter, the world’s richest man is also autistic!

I briefly tried Twitter, but it wasn't for me. I do occasionally dip in and out of Facebook though, mainly to keep myself in the loop as to what is happening in the lives of family, friends, and acquaintances, and news relating to my neighbourhood. I don't have a mobile phone that can connect to the internet, so I access it via a desktop PC. With Facebook, there are settings that enable me to have some control over who sees the stuff I post (FB friends only, or maybe just specific FB friends).