Navigating the Social Media Wilderness: A Search for the Digital Promised Land

Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

Introduction:

The social media landscape has undergone dramatic transformations in the wake of Elon Musk's stewardship of Twitter. As users, we've witnessed a surge in alternative platforms, each proffering its unique take on digital communication and community-building. In this essay, I highlight our journey through these varied digital landscapes – Mastodon, Counter Social, Bluesky, Postnews, Notes, Spoutible, Threads, and countless others forgotten along the way. 

Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash

The Exodus from Twitter: 

The Jewish people have a long history of journeys. Our ancestors embarked on a defining one from Egypt, symbolizing liberation and the pursuit of a higher moral ground. Echoing this spirit, many migrated from Twitter following Musk's takeover, searching for platforms that offered a more liberating and enriching communication space and, at least for me, somewhere safer where I could post without being attacked by right-winged extremists. 

The Digital Bamidbar: Mastodon, Counter Social, Bluesky, Postnews, Notes, Spoutible, and many others:

Like our ancestors wandering in the wilderness - the 'Bamidbar' - we found ourselves navigating these platforms. Each promised a unique online community and communication experience, yet these promises for me often felt as elusive as a desert mirage. So, I continued trying as many platforms as possible, sustained by the hope of discovering a platform I could use and leave Twitter behind. 

Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash

The Promised Land: Threads: 

In the past, our experiences with the numerous Twitter alternatives resembled a venture into a vast, digital wilderness. Each new platform was akin to an unexplored terrain, filled with the promise of discovery but also the disorientation of the unfamiliar. For many of us, the journey was a constant cycle that was as exciting as it was exhausting.

We would restart our online presence from scratch, diligently building a following one connection at a time. We explored new ways of conveying thoughts, sharing experiences, and initiating dialogues. Each platform presented unique systems, cultures, and methods of communication, compelling us to adapt and learn swiftly. 

Despite the promise of each new social platform, we often found ourselves mired in the difficulty of fostering meaningful conversations in these new environments. Instead of thriving digital communities, we often found ourselves in a cacophony of voices where nuanced dialogue often got lost in the digital din.

However, the emergence of Meta’s Threads has significantly altered this dynamic. Threads introduced a fresh and vibrant social media experience with the familiarity of Twitter which helped to reduce the steep learning curve that usually accompanied a new platform.

With the seamless integration with Instagram, allowing us to quickly connect with our followers and those we follow on Instagram, within less than 24 hours my follower count exceeded 1400.

Most importantly, Threads rejuvenated our ability to hold meaningful online conversations, which were reminiscent of the dialogues found within a community. With all of this Threads feels less like another pitstop in our digital wanderings and more like the Promised Land of online community conversations and for me it just feels safer. 

The Future of the Digital Tribe: 

As we journey through the ever-evolving social media landscape, we must remember the lessons from our virtual journeys.

"In every generation, a person must see themselves as if they personally left Egypt..." (Mishnah, Pesachim 10:5).

This wisdom, read at each Passover Seder, serves as a poignant reminder of our shared human quest for freedom. In our digital exodus from Twitter, we must not see ourselves as mere participants but as active architects of our new online communities. The future of our digital tribe lies not in the number of followers we amass but in the meaningful connections we forge and the values we uphold. Our pilgrimage through the social media universe is not just a quest for the 'Promised Land' of perfect platforms - it's an opportunity to embody our cherished Jewish values in our digital interactions. Deuteronomy teaches us, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life." (Deuteronomy 30:19). Therefore, may we choose to create digital spaces that are life-affirming, positive, and safe from extremism.

Update:

I joined Spill this Morning

Another Update:

I found a producer and will soon be working on recording some new music and an album. Please follow me on Spotify or wherever you stream to stay updated.