I think the distincition between "on" and "in" in this case so far has majorly been driven by how the users percieve the platform and algorithm. As awareness of the ill effects of these apps and the loss of individual consciousness, Id hope the vocabular would change with it. Another interesting and tangential trend I have noticed amongst myself and my friends is saying we read something online while we very well know we saw it in instagram reels.
Seems like a very limited way to understand physical platforms. Theatres, pulpits, and soapboxes are also regulated, curated, gated, and surveilled; to various degrees. From there to digital platforms also seems like a difference in degree.
Loving all your pieces so far! I definitely haven’t thought very much about “on” vs “in” when talking about online spaces. I’m 24 and grew up alongside the internet (kids used to have blackberry phones and watch early YouTube like Fred) and watching it evolve has been both scary and exciting, especially now that I have young nieces who are going to experience such a different internet than what I did at their age. I wonder how their language will be shaped in the years to come!
My hot take is that hate speech should be illegal in the US(where a lot of content creators live). Im not talking about some guy saying the n word. I mean people systematically spreading hateful ideas which incites violence. If that sort of hate speech were punishable by law then that would relieve the responsibility of the platforms, which can't meaningfully punish anyone.
Given the power that these platforms wield, perhaps they should be required to earn Section 230 protection by meeting transparency and audit standards, offering users a way to contest overbearing content moderation, publishing algorithmic criteria, and adhering to basic content safety guidelines.
its bizarre that there's so many subtle ways the rich and powerful control our mindset. how subconsciously we play into a narrative pre-determined for us.
Okay fine let's collectively start saying "I saw this in TikTok"
it’s amazing how that feeling of “neutrality” they try to project is so deeply baked-in — touching even the prepositions!
Fascinating - as always.
I think the distincition between "on" and "in" in this case so far has majorly been driven by how the users percieve the platform and algorithm. As awareness of the ill effects of these apps and the loss of individual consciousness, Id hope the vocabular would change with it. Another interesting and tangential trend I have noticed amongst myself and my friends is saying we read something online while we very well know we saw it in instagram reels.
“If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
—George Orwell
It pleasantly baffles me how you and others consistently conjure such novel and meaningful perspectives on the world
Sometimes amusing to add a definite article, "I saw it on the TikTok." giving a verifiable feeling a f certitude.
Seems like a very limited way to understand physical platforms. Theatres, pulpits, and soapboxes are also regulated, curated, gated, and surveilled; to various degrees. From there to digital platforms also seems like a difference in degree.
Loving all your pieces so far! I definitely haven’t thought very much about “on” vs “in” when talking about online spaces. I’m 24 and grew up alongside the internet (kids used to have blackberry phones and watch early YouTube like Fred) and watching it evolve has been both scary and exciting, especially now that I have young nieces who are going to experience such a different internet than what I did at their age. I wonder how their language will be shaped in the years to come!
"Something that lifted you up, making it easier to directly communicate with your audience":
That still well describes social media. You have, as it were, a stage, and this stage enables you to reach more people.
Para. 3 about the means becoming conflated with the message:
This is rather old. You've heard of Marshall McLuhan, "the medium is the massage"?
My hot take is that hate speech should be illegal in the US(where a lot of content creators live). Im not talking about some guy saying the n word. I mean people systematically spreading hateful ideas which incites violence. If that sort of hate speech were punishable by law then that would relieve the responsibility of the platforms, which can't meaningfully punish anyone.
Given the power that these platforms wield, perhaps they should be required to earn Section 230 protection by meeting transparency and audit standards, offering users a way to contest overbearing content moderation, publishing algorithmic criteria, and adhering to basic content safety guidelines.
Exactly. Nuance has invaded a sphere where there once was none.
its bizarre that there's so many subtle ways the rich and powerful control our mindset. how subconsciously we play into a narrative pre-determined for us.
Interestingly we say both "on TV" and "on South Park"