The Decline of Twitter: Why it's Becoming Less Useful and Enjoyable

📉Twitter is experiencing a decline in user engagement and overall usefulness.

🤬The platform has become a breeding ground for toxic behavior and harassment.

💔Many users, including scientists and academics, have left or significantly reduced their use of Twitter due to the negative environment.

💵Twitter's shift towards monetization and the removal of useful features have contributed to its decline.

🔄The algorithm changes and the blue check mark system have negatively affected the quality of conversations and the discovery of valuable content.

Why do you think Twitter is dying?

—Twitter is dying due to increased toxicity, harassment, the removal of useful features, and the deterioration of meaningful conversations.

Are there any alternatives to Twitter?

—Yes, there are other social media platforms like Mastodon, Diaspora, and Telegram that offer a more positive and engaging user experience.

Has Twitter addressed the concerns about toxicity and harassment?

—While Twitter has made some efforts to combat toxicity, the problem still persists and many users feel that it has not been effectively addressed.

How has the monetization of Twitter affected its decline?

—Twitter's shift towards monetization has led to changes in the algorithm and the prioritization of paid content, which has negatively impacted the user experience.

What features have been removed from Twitter?

—Useful features like TweetDeck and the ability to block users are either no longer available or being phased out, making the platform less user-friendly.

00:05In this episode, Sean Carroll discusses the decline of Twitter and the reasons behind its decreasing usefulness and enjoyment.

02:30Toxicity, harassment, and the deterioration of meaningful conversations have contributed to the decline of Twitter.

06:15Many scientists and academics have left Twitter or significantly reduced their use due to the negative environment.

09:45Twitter's focus on monetization and the removal of useful features have further contributed to its decline.

13:00Algorithm changes and the blue check mark system have negatively affected the quality of conversations and the discovery of valuable content.