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I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

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Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#31

Post by distantsounds »

mgbmtl wrote: post #23
distantsounds wrote: post #15

Yes, when you have no followers/new posts from followers the feed with fill itself with what it thinks you might like. It's not very good right now because it probably needs more data points, but if I can suggest one thing, it's this: Get More Friends. That way the feed has people you want instead. Algorithms can only help so much in that space. I can't believe this isn't obviously pointed out.

It would be great if all these sites (including Reddit) just had a button "show me content I might like", instead of distracting me with click-bait. I get too distracted and end-up wasting too much time doom-scrolling. I've deleted all my accounts.

you can't search hashtags yet, once when that works I'm sure it will be much better. discoverability on the platform sucks right now, for sure.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#32

Post by jackmott »

infinitezest wrote: post #20

If you have to put that kind of work into a platform to make it usable, I would suggest putting it into a platform that aligns with your values. I just can't understand why anyone, even "normals", would be so eager to jump into bed with Facebook again after the last decade.

[dead]

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#33

Post by speak_plainly »

I think there is a larger question about the role that celebrities, influencers, meme accounts, thirst trap accounts, or any other account that is incentivized to post play on social media.

You immediately saw the energy and positivity drop as these groups arrived to threads. Perhaps it was a mix of egotism, phoniness, and shallow attempts at engagement, but you also saw engagement and follows rise with that group.

The head of Instagram has said that news is going to be less of a priority for them, which coincides with Canadian legislation demanding pay for links and upcoming US legislation that is expected to be similar.

I would love to see them deprioritize these financially motivated accounts and try to focus more on local and more genuine interactions, otherwise they will just fall into the same trap Twitter has been stuck in for years.

Ultimately, these accounts drive engagement but perhaps there is a cost to the long-term health or viability of the platform when taking this approach. Given Meta has seemingly no need to monetize Threads, I hope they try new approaches that are healthier for the platform and better for their users rather than cheap engagement.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#34

Post by hairofadog »

infinitezest wrote: post #20

If you have to put that kind of work into a platform to make it usable, I would suggest putting it into a platform that aligns with your values. I just can't understand why anyone, even "normals", would be so eager to jump into bed with Facebook again after the last decade.

I agree with you and I have no plans to sign up for threads, but I have to admit that there's some part of my monkey brain that has softened on meta throughout all this. I am not saying that feeling is justified; only admitting it's there. I think the last decade has given us events and people who went out of their way to make "normal" levels of malevolence seem quaint or even charming.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#35

Post by [deleted] »

mchanson wrote: post #25
infinitezest wrote: post #20

If you have to put that kind of work into a platform to make it usable, I would suggest putting it into a platform that aligns with your values. I just can't understand why anyone, even "normals", would be so eager to jump into bed with Facebook again after the last decade.

I don't think it's fair to call it getting into bed. More like trying out the new ice cream place that everyone is trying.

[deleted]

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#36

Post by dorfsmay »

I was surprised by having no option and forcing everybody to their algorithm when their other platform either show you content from accounts you follow first and tell you when you're done (instagram) or have an option to show you content from your friends only or friends + group (Facebook's "your feed" and "friends").

I personally don't mind ads, somebody needs to pay for the service and I prefer ada over forced paid for content wasting my time.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#37

Post by onetokeoverthe »

ta1243 wrote: post #8
tazjin wrote: post #4

I'd link to the Paris Hilton tweet where she wrote "If you're not having fun, then just leave.", but alas ...

I remember when she first entered news headlines with the "Paris Hilton Sex Tape". Couldn't give a stuff so never read it, but for years I assumed this was some important business person or world leader who had been discovered having some illicit affair in a hotel in France.

[dead]

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#38

Post by giarc »

dorfsmay wrote: post #36

I was surprised by having no option and forcing everybody to their algorithm when their other platform either show you content from accounts you follow first and tell you when you're done (instagram) or have an option to show you content from your friends only or friends + group (Facebook's "your feed" and "friends"). I personally don't mind ads, somebody needs to pay for the service and I prefer ada over forced paid…

I suspect they will launch "Following/Friend" soon. Part of me thinks they pushed the launch when Elon was limiting tweets.

I don't mind ads either if they are obvious and targeted (no more penis ads like the early days of the internet). I suspect Meta won't turn on ads for awhile, but when they do, they have one of the biggest ad markets to tap into. I suspect soon enough advertisers will see an additional button in their preferences. Run ads on Instagram and Threads.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#39

Post by chmod775 »

If you have to put in that much effort to fine-tune the machinery that is supposed to trickle-feed your brain with short-lived dopamine hits, maybe you should try a different product. Not all junkies are the same. You may not be the target audience.

Tongue-in-cheek response aside, when YouTube managed to trick me into wasting a couple hours with YouTube shorts, my reaction after reflecting on what I just did wasn't to try and make it even better by curating it - instead I blocked YouTube shorts recommendations with my adblocker.

Re: I am drowning in mutes: The current Threads experience

#40

Post by jfengel »

speak_plainly wrote: post #33

I think there is a larger question about the role that celebrities, influencers, meme accounts, thirst trap accounts, or any other account that is incentivized to post play on social media. You immediately saw the energy and positivity drop as these groups arrived to threads. Perhaps it was a mix of egotism, phoniness, and shallow attempts at engagement, but you also saw engagement and follows rise with that group. T…

I'm interested in the contrast between the news producers, who want you to pay for content, and the flood of people desperate to attract your attention without anything of value.

It feels like there is a certain amount of worthwhile stuff, despite vast numbers of people seeking ways to create it. You'd think with billions of people trying we'd get more things worth actually looking at.

Is is because a lot of people just really have nothing to contribute to the world?

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