This is my post from 9/26/25 on X, in one piece. I've also added a “deleted scene” that I was to chicken to add to the X post.
We are killing our creatives. There's only so much people like @OrahOnX, @GreenManReports, @FamousInMyPhone, @MeetYouAtMoes and @TAR_Kirk can do.
The algorithm isn't the problem. The fact that there needs to be an algorithm is the problem. And we are all part of the problem–no amount of tweaking, fine-tuning, or AI wizardry will fix it.
The culture of social media is broken. You can't set up a Hurricane Numb-nuts of flying hot takes, meaningless one-liners, and questions about country names ending in “A” and then expect some cherry-picking fairy to make it into anything other than noise.
@GreenManReports can't conceptualize, shoot, and edit more than one 5 minute video a day. It's probably not great for his mental health to feel like he has to do that, EVERY SINGLE DAY…just to stay relevant.
@OrahOnX has school age kids…and standards…on what she puts out there. That takes time to produce.
@FamousInMyPhone is an Ironman, but a one-day-per-week, 24-hour space is draining. I'm sure it's also rewarding, but not algorithm friendly.
@MeetYouAtMoes is a one-woman serial production that takes an extended period to produce and struggles to get traction.
And then there are the indie authors.
@TAR_Kirk puts out some killer fiction, but that takes years, in some cases. After that, there's only so much campaigning for cloak-wearing one can do before you look like a cult leader.
I'm pretty sure, the cute blonde in Dallas has some truly meaningful things to say, every once in a while. But that gets lost because she has to tell her 20 thousand random male followers good morning/good night every day. If she doesn't they might jump ship for the cute blonde in Pittsburgh who loves every single one of her followers.
(Spoiler alert: They've already jumped, they're playing the field, too.)
(Spoiler spoiler alert: It's not humanly possible for either of them to love ALL of you, in the way that you're hoping, even if I'm being generous in my assumptions of your motives, Cheetos boy. You know who you are.)
There needs to be some sense of persistence. If the best ideas evaporate into the ether after 72 hours, what are we left with? I sure don't mind hearing a killer song more than once, and I can definitely do without the FOMO if I take a day off from scrolling.
Gatekeeping isn't the answer either. There are real problems when any system starts picking winners and losers. It doesn't matter if that system is corporate, governmental, religious, or technological. Even democratic “rule by will of the majority” often freezes out necessary voices when they are uncomfortable or ask for painful changes.
Would a framework of scarcity be helpful? For example: Every account, big or small, gets two posts a day up to 12 a week, maximum? (Take a day off, you savages!)
If you absolutely have to show us what you had for lunch…fine…now be quiet for the rest of the day.
Or maybe a sliding scale instead of a simple “like” button. One to ten. One: I hate this–ten: it made me four inches taller and bulletproof.
But the true fix is for all of us to really value…value.
Stop interacting with content just because it's there. Start expecting it to be meaningful.
You should absolutely follow and interact with an account PARTIALLY because you find them attractive. But don't let them get away with being lazy. The gene pool gods put them on Baywatch. Make them save your life, not drown you in empty promises.
Finally, outrage pays the same as praise. If you engage with the bots, they still get paid. Sometimes, silence is the best answer. If you hate something and just have to speak out…use one of your OWN two posts for the day.
Let's make social media great, for the first time. #MaSoMeG
Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I'll
be quiet for the rest of the weekend, now.
All so true. I don't really do twitter/x. It seemed like trying to be heard in an endless stormy sea - raising your hands just above the waves. I think for those that truly derive an income then yes they have to work hard - it's a job. For many of us...we should consider a hobby (if writing here)...the likelihood of somehow being found and getting successful is small.
So....I take a realistic approach. I write and publish here mainly. If people like it (and comment) it feels great. And it's great to reciprocate.
Tell us how you really feel!