My 2024 thoughts on the state of social media

I see a continued fragmentation of social media as people leave X(Twitter).

X Corp

X, formerly known as Twitter, is a global social-media platform that facilitates real-time communication and the sharing of short messages, known as "tweets". Founded...

The Weird, Fragmented World of Social Media After Twitter

The common forum that Elon Musk destroyed will never be replaced—and that’s okay.

Criticism of X (social network)

X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced various criticisms over the years, particularly concerning content moderation, censorship, and platform management.

The Pulse of The Planet, Flatlined: Why Twitter's Is Failing to Grow

No, it's not rampant abuse, weak leadership, or a product that intimidates new users. The roots of Twitter's stagnation go back to 2010.

A new study suggests that scientists are leaving X (formerly known as Twitter) in significant numbers due to its declining professional value. Many now find Bluesky to be a more effective platform for networking, outreach, and staying updated on research.

36K votes, 1.1K comments. 34M subscribers in the science community. This community is a place to share and discuss new scientific research. Read…

Twitter Thoughts For You

I previously have written back in March 2022 about how I use Twitter, and back in April 2023 about Twitter and its then-new algorithms, which have changed again.

Shifts in U.S. Social Media Use, 2020–2024: Decline, Fragmentation, and Enduring Polarization

The social media ecosystem appears to be in flux. Twitter’s rebranding to X has come to symbolize a broader reorganization of online publics – political reshuffling, user attrition, and uncertainty over the role of legacy platforms. Simultaneously, the shift from text-based, networked feeds toward algorithmically curated, short-form video has accelerated, with TikTok setting the pace for the wider ecosystem [18, 14, 16]. At the same time, everyday communication increasingly migrates from large, open networks to semi-private spaces such as group chats and messaging apps. Commentators describe a digital public sphere in transition: smaller, more fragmented, less dominated by traditional social networking sites, and rise of more broadcast-oriented forms of media – with some even suggesting that we are seeing the beginning of the end of the social media era.

My top Bluesky feature requests for 2024

In 2023 my social media consumption changed dramatically after I DM'd a random mufo on what-was-then-called Twitter for a Bluesky invite. At the time, I was floating between Twitter itself and Mastodon for my primary daily social media experience. On one hand, I loathed Twitter (and

Elon Musk on Twitter / X

Interesting. Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don’t get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away. Best thing is to post content in long form on this platform.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2023

How the Twitter/X Algorithm Works in 2026 (Source Code)

Twitter published its ranking weights on GitHub. A reply is worth 150x a like. Free accounts get 10x less reach. Full scoring system explained.

How Twitter Found Its Money Mojo

The not-so-dismal science of Twitternomics

I drew a bunch of dots to explain why social media is broken.

Two years ago last month, I shut down This., a social media platform that allowed each member to share just 1 link a day. The service was…