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Another thought on the Bluesky discourse: Bluesky on its absolute worst, most sanctimonious, most "I think you'll find" day has NOTHING on TikTok comment sections/stitches. But TikTok is growing well. To me, that suggests general user utility/attractiveness may be a bigger issue here.

Sometimes niche is good. Going for mass appeal has very predictable consequences. Kind of a self-enshittification, you might say.

Thats their problem, not ours. If it becomes mid time Twitter we'll be just unhappy as when Twitter grew too big. If they want social media then it has to be user centred. If they want an addictive news and ad site we'll all leave again.

I get most of my news from here through all the clips and links that get posted. Which then get dissected and discussed and deepened by context. I like that. I once paid to read a newspaper every day. Don’t want ads, but I’d be willing to spend a (small) amount for a sub. If 40M did, then: $$$

But thats a by product. It is not the intended purpose of social media. The insistence that it is is why we're in this mess because we are treating all information-as equal. It isn't. Discussing the events of the day is not the same as being a journalist.

Or, rather than ads, accounts placing links to websites or newsletters or podcasts to attract paying eyeballs could pay a fee (also small) for the privilege in the form of posts, to maintain aesthetic appeal. Another source of revenue, without resorting to annoying pop-up ads with flickering video.