"Maybe Bluesky has won"
Link: Maybe Bluesky has won
Maybe. Threads had some potential and provided some great self-moderation tools, but Meta botched their moderation so badly (read: cheaped out by using AI instead of people) that they lost early adopters. Some of those moved to Bluesky, while others were tired of moving to the next platform. Some people preferred Bluesky because it wasn't attached to Instagram or Meta in any way.
But Bluesky, as the author notes, has control over two key components of their not-so-federated platform: the DIDs and DMs, with no known plans to relinquish that control. Ultimately, they've rebuilt early Twitter, and there are some that say Bluesky feels like the past instead of the future, in a non-complimentary way.
For myself, I've realized that social media increases my anxiety. If I'm already stressed, it makes me more stressed. I already maintained a quite small Instagram profile (private, with less than 100 following and followers, each), and it was too much for me. I think there's more of a sense of lurkers or dead connections that I find disconcerting. The few stronger connections I can maintain in other ways.
I deactivated my socials maybe two or three weeks ago. Other than my mom, no one asked about it. But in that time, I've had a few really nice video calls with friends, and a couple others that have at least popped in via text message to share an update. For real-life interpersonal connections, I like this way better. And I still work on getting out and about for some meatspace interactions.
Online, I'm still indulging in discussions here [on Tildes] and posting on my own blog. Tildes moves at a slow enough pace that it feels manageable, and the conversations are thoughtful. My own blog moves at whatever pace I want it to and there's no expectation or worry about interactions. And if people want to reach me, they have options like email or Signal. (Signal with a username is far more private and secure than any social platform's inbox.)
Also posted on Tildes