Comment: How do we navigate the changing landscape of social media?

Like many people, I was shocked and horrified when stabbings, riots and counter protests took place in some parts of the country. At that time I had a commitment in my home city of Manchester – or Manc-hattan as we like to call it these days. I had felt perfectly safe strolling through sunny streets, where friendly folks went about their business peacefully, all of us oblivious to the skirmishes that would erupt just hours later.

In the meantime a well known digital tech giant began stirring the toxic pot. According to The Guardian, Twitter owner Elon Musk, shared a faked Telegraph article claiming that Kier Starmer was considering sending rioters to “emergency detainment camps” in the Falklands. The Telegraph described it as “a fabricated headline for an article that doesn’t exist.” Half an hour later Musk deleted his post but claimed that nearly two million readers had viewed it.

Disclosure: As a journalist I loved some of the engagement, connections, real life friendships, sources and news stories I discovered on Twitter. Less so in recent times. As the nonsense escalated so did my concerns and disengagement. I dithered as more media peeps drifted away. But when the fake news story broke, for me, a line was crossed.

I think it would be fair to say that the digital landscape is experiencing a time of unprecedented turbulence. A great Exodus has begun. Celebrities, businesses, politicians, lawyers, journalists, NHS bodies, some banks and key players have left Twitter altogether. Some organisations and individuals have simply reduced their engagement. Some have ceased engagement altogether but held onto their Twitter handle so others can’t nobble their name or brand.

Here’s what I’m seeing online: Other social media platforms are slowly increasing in popularity. Each of them works differently and will suit different requirements. Threads is becoming popular with media and creative types. It’s much smaller than Twitter, currently slower paced and feels less manic, but maybe that’s a good thing. Instagram seems to be well used by photographers, film makers, visual thinkers and designers. Linkedin has shape-shifted somewhat in recent times, but remains a great place to post, network and job search. I’m not such a fan of Tik Tok but I know some people who absolutely love it!

WhatsApp is particularly effective for sharing information or chatting within small groups. Most of my audio notifications are turned off, except for WhatsApp, because that’s where my real people hang out. And then there’s good old familiar Facebook with all its quirks! Public groups hold the annoying potential to be both helpful and unhelpful. But with diligent admins, private groups can function well as a means of connecting. These remain a popular choice. Individuals simply aiming to connect and communicate a snippet of news with their friends won’t go far wrong either.

When it comes to navigating social media, with it’s addictive pull and global reach, it’s important to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. To remind ourselves that we are the head and not the tail. Social media is a man made construct. A powerful communication tool which is there to serve us. We do not serve it. If you take a break or ditch social media altogether I’m pretty sure nothing bad will actually happen. It’s good to explore different social media platforms. None of them are perfect, because they are full of imperfect people, but it may be worth a careful exploration until you find the places that works for you.

Main Photo Credit: Getty images