social media

The scoop on social media for influencers, lobbyists, budding politicians and civilians with a stake in the Swamp's trending issues.

Get out of the way white fragility, let’s eat!
Fufu, a West African dish, has become foodie TikTok’s latest obsession. The TikTok trend has many white people trying and enjoying Fufu, a popular traditional Akan dish among many African cuisines most notably Ghanaian, Nigerian and Togolese cooking. The trend, which emerged in early February, highlights an issue that is pertinent to talk about, but is often avoided; how narratives of Africa have historically been shaped by white supremacy.
By Jordan Mckay5 years ago in The Swamp
Here's Everything You Missed From the #BeLikeNgozi Challenge
Everybody did so good! On the 15th of February, 2021, phenomenal news hit the internet that Nigeria’s own former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization. That announcement in and of itself is exciting but becomes even more exciting when you know that Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment has made history. Okonjo-Iweala becomes the seventh director general of the organization, making history as the first woman and the first African to lead the World Trade Organization.
By Jide Okonjo5 years ago in The Swamp
THIS MAY BE THE LAST ARTICLE I WRITE
DATELINE RICHMOND, INDIANA USA So the answer to the question, "Do you have a right not to be kicked off a social media platform?" is no! You have no such right. Many people are shocked to learn that the First Amendment free speech guarantee, along with all constitutional rights, only protects us against the government. So, if the government interferes with your freedom of speech, you can bring a First Amendment lawsuit to challenge. This is true whether we're talking about a federal government official, a state nor a local government official. But guess what? LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or the other social media platforms are not the government, they are for profit companies. They are private sector entities, and therefore, they have no First Amendment obligation to protect your freedom of speech. They can choose to say anything they or friends say about you but when the other ox is being gored...wala, they can cut you off at the knees or further south! They own a special brand of their own First Amendment rights— it’s called by virtue of a Supreme Court ruling..."media right". Ever hear the old quote, "Never get into a fight with the media because they never run out of ink!" So, just as the New York Times or CNN, or any other traditional media platform has no obligation to host your particular message, the same is true for social media. And this is of great concern because as a practical matter, social media have become the dominant platform for the exchange of information and ideas. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized in a unanimous opinion in 2017 that social media platforms are the most important platforms for the exchange of information and ideas and communication, not only among all of us as individuals with our friends and family members but also between us and government officials and politicians. So, it's really important not only for our individual freedom of speech to be meaningful but also for our rights as citizens in participatory democracy to have equal access to social media platforms. That is why so many people, so many government officials, so many human rights agencies and activists are thinking very hard and working to implement other ways to protect equal and fair access to social media platforms for all of us, even if our ideas are unpopular or controversial. So, in a nutshell, do you have any constitutional First Amendment free speech right to air your views on any social media platforms? The answer is no.
By Welby Cox5 years ago in The Swamp
After "GaysOverCovid"
“The shitstorm is not a form of accountability.” Richard Seymour, author of The Twittering Machine, continues, “Nor is it a form of political pedagogy, regardless of the high-minded intentions, or sadism, of the participants. No one is learning anything, except how to remain connected to the machine. It is a punishment beating, its ecstasies sanctioned by virtue. [Social media] has, as part of its addictive repertoire, democratized punishment” (74, emphases added). Government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in general, has left much to be desired. The privileging of profits over people (an alliteration for our times) has all but ensured the string of disasters Covid-19 has left behind and continues to leave behind.
By Darrin Gonzales5 years ago in The Swamp
Facebook Under Fire
January 24, 2021 Since my last op-ed on Facebook, many things have changed. However, the overall slippery slope theme remains the same. This tech giant has grown considerably over the past couple of years, increasing its influence and impact, and strengthening its control on content and creativity. Previously, I showcased how the platform uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to cater to its user’s interests and encourage more engagement (Spradlin, 2019). This is the business model Facebook uses to increase its value and draw in profits through the sale of advertisements. Currently, Facebook earns roughly $40 from each of its users every quarter, for a running total of about $160 per year (Gao, 2020). On a per user per year basis, that does not seem like much. To compare, most people pay $160 per month to have cable and internet. On the other hand, when you factor in Facebook’s 196 million daily users, it is quite clear how it has become a billion-dollar company. Nevertheless, more money and more users has resulted in more problems for Facebook, especially on the skirt of a global pandemic and a controversial politics.
By Amanda Spradlin5 years ago in The Swamp
Why Trump's Twitter Ban Is A Bad Idea. Top Story - January 2021.
For some reason, unknown to probably everyone, Trump decided that his go-to way of communicating with the American people over the last 4 years would be Twitter. He fully embraced the medium and definitely became the first full on social media president.
By Chris Hearn5 years ago in The Swamp
To All My Social Media
In this time of unknowns, social media may be one of the casualties. Political or opinions can cause one to be banned or deleted. There are too many variables at stake to risk losing touch. Too much information, some good, some bad. Some true, some false. Some skewed in either direction for influences we don’t understand.
By Larry Nowicki5 years ago in The Swamp
Why the Elimination of Parler Is More Scary Than You Think
It's official, Parler is down. And while this might look like something good, it actually represents one of the worst news of 2021.
By JM Miana5 years ago in The Swamp
Social media alternatives gaining popularity
Many people have become frustrated with biased censorship on currently common social media platforms. There have been a great number of social media sites over the years. Some stayed popular a short while until the next newest one came out. Some social media giants such as Facebook have enjoyed a very long turn in the popularity limelight. However that could be changing.
By Rose Henderson-Davis5 years ago in The Swamp
YouTube fumbles political influence, election coverage
YouTube has declined to remove a video that it admits impinges on confidence in election results with its unsubstantiated assertion that Trump has won and that Democrats are committing voter fraud against Republican ballots.
By Cedric Dent Jr.5 years ago in The Swamp
30 Joe Biden Tweets To Inspire You To Vote Like Your Life Depends On It
The month is only half over and Joe Biden is having a significantly more presidential month than the actual Commander-In-Chief himself. Heck, Fox news miiight even agree! (Probably not).
By Cameron DeWitt Ruiz5 years ago in The Swamp
Gen Z Wanted Matching Tattoos... but the Suggestion was a Nazi Symbol
The idea for a Gen Z matching tattoo first sparked after @smoothavacado on TikTok suggested the idea. The now deleted original post said that this tattoo would be "as not only a symbol of unity in our generation, but also as a sign of rebellion" implying that great changes would be made in the future because of Gen Z. Below is the image of the original design.
By Annie5 years ago in The Swamp