Chris Trottier @chris@mastodon.thedecentralists.com

All of us carry surveillance devices in our pocket. I'm referring, of course, to our smartphones. The US Military is buying geolocation data from "free" apps to track our whereabouts. Sound crazy? Yes, but it's also real. #podcast. https://www.buzzsprout.com/995260/6570343-hot-topix-x-marks-the-spot

Is social media innovation dead? Now Snap is copying TikTok. Soon every social network will look and behave the same way. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/tech/snapchat-spotlight-tiktok/index.html

Of course social media companies make editorial choices. Just because they automate those choices behind a barrage of algorithms doesn't means that they're not a publisher. The question is: should they be regulated like publishers? https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/16/former-president-obama-social-media-companies-make-editorial-choices.html

Then there's how Google uses reCAPTCHA to harvest personal data about you. I have no problem if you're giving Google consent, but when your social media is held hostage by reCAPTCHA, that is not consent!

Twitter is proving once again that it's auto-moderation is inherently flawed.

1. reCAPTCHA discriminates against people with disabilities

2. Phone verification is vulnerable to SIM card spoofing, and thus theft of your Twitter account

What gets me is Twitter's smug "easy, right?" phrasing. In 2017, it took 8 seconds to solve reCAPTCHA. Now it takes 30 seconds as the system is designed so you fail! Why is this? Because Google uses reCAPTCHA to train their AI.

Facebook is a publisher but is exempt from the responsibilities of a traditional publisher. This is why they allow calls to violence on their platform. No social media platform should have the power to "tolerate" hate. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27S35P

With everything happening in the world, it can be tough to knuckle down and get work done. Here's what I suggest. For the next three months, take daily time outs and be mindful of why you do what you do. Remember the joy that comes from work. Fall in love with your daily routine. #motivation

It's a bad time for Twitter. Not only are they facing pressure from regulators, their stock shares are sinking. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/29/twitter-twtr-q3-2020-earnings.html

It was great to have Daniel Bernhard, Executive Director of FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting as a guest on this episode of The Decentralists. Independent #journalism is under threat by monopolistic tech companies that exploit all #news as "content" for the #socialmedia mill. How can citizens fight back? https://www.buzzsprout.com/995260/6128674-episode-4-social-media-the-biggest-threat-to-independent-journalism

We're in a weird era where brands are trying to become personalities and personalities are trying to become brands. This situation is a case in point. Do people actually care about the #socialmedia managers behind the #brands? https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/26/tech/mcdonalds-social-media-brands-trnd/index.html

Antitrust lawsuits are coming. Regulation of Big Tech is the one thing both Democrats and Republicans agree on. On this podcast, I share with you what this all means and their far-reaching consequences. Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google should be scared. https://www.buzzsprout.com/995260/6018049-hot-topix-big-tech-braces-for-both-biden-and-trump

Over the next few years, we're going to hear a lot of astroturfing from Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google. They'll try to convince the world they're good, not evil. In which case, remember the facts. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/technology/amazon-apple-facebook-google-antitrust-report.html

With #TikTok, the Trump administration is playing with fire. If they ban the app, at what cost? The criticisms they give TikTok can be applied to American social networks. The EU is watching closely. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2020/10/12/what-the-debate-over-tiktok-means-for-the-future-of-social-media

Now should you join Mastodon? What about the greater Fediverse? Yes and yes. Over the past 10 years, the Internet is gradually been eroded by the Evil Empire of surveillance capitalism. But we're fighting back! And we're doing it with style.

Join us!

Specifically, if you're running a company and worried about data integrity -- and you should! -- we want to show the world that the #Fediverse can be done. The proof is in the pudding!

We also realized that though the Fediverse is growing by leaps and bounds, there's a lot of folks that may be hesitant to join. Twitter and Facebook, for all their faults, are a known quantity. We want to offer a space for those who want to make the leap but don't know if they should.

Secondly, the lesson we learned from our Twitter ban is that it's absolutely CRITICAL that everyone should own their own data. If you have the know-how to start a Mastodon instance, you should do so. If you don't but want to, I'm happy to offer advice. If administration is a barrier -- I don't blame you if it is! -- we're more than happy to offer this instance as your home provided you abide by our Terms of Service.

So what makes this Mastodon instance different? Great question! First, The Decentralists is about decentralization. We have an established podcast all about it. We explore critical issues about social media, journalism, geo-politics. Have a listen! https://www.buzzsprout.com/995260