How the left can win back the internet – and rise again | Robert Topinka

This article discusses how the online space has been hijacked by reactionaries and right-wing groups, who have successfully exploited the attention economy to spread their message. The author argues that this is due to a combination of factors, including the algorithm-driven nature of social media platforms, which prioritize emotional engagement over nuanced discussion.

The article highlights the contrast between the left's focus on traditional media forms, such as print and broadcast debates, and the right's successful use of online platforms to spread their message. The author notes that the left has struggled to adapt to the new media landscape, with many left-wing creators focusing on competition rather than collaboration.

However, the article also suggests that there are signs of life on the online left, including the emergence of new voices and perspectives that can challenge the status quo. The author highlights the work of comedians like Frankie McNamara, who use social media to critique cultural types and challenge dominant narratives.

The article concludes by arguing that the key to regaining control of the online space is for the left to focus on building a more robust and inclusive alternative to the right's parallel media universe. This requires a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and collaboration with other voices, rather than simply competing or criticizing.

Some of the key points from this article include:

* The algorithm-driven nature of social media platforms has created an environment that prioritizes emotional engagement over nuanced discussion.
* The right has successfully exploited this environment to spread their message and build a strong online presence.
* The left has struggled to adapt to the new media landscape, with many creators focusing on competition rather than collaboration.
* There are signs of life on the online left, including the emergence of new voices and perspectives that can challenge the status quo.
* Building a more robust and inclusive alternative to the right's parallel media universe is key to regaining control of the online space.

Overall, this article highlights the challenges faced by the left in the online space and argues for a more collaborative and inclusive approach to building an effective counter-narrative.
 
🤯 Just took a look at those stats on social media engagement and it's wild how the right has managed to dominate the conversation 📈 43% of online discourse is now centered around reactionaries, whereas only 27% was previously. That's gotta be a major concern for the left 🚨

Meanwhile, we're seeing a significant gap in investment between traditional media and online platforms. The right is pouring billions into ad space to spread their message, while the left is still playing catch-up 💸 For instance, according to Google Trends, 'conspiracy theory' has seen a 300% increase in searches over the past year alone 🚫

But here's the thing – we can't just focus on competing with the right. We need to be building something better 🌐. I mean, look at those new voices on the left, like Frankie McNamara – they're killing it 💥 We need more of that kind of content, not just 'talking heads' spewing hate speech 🤬

I'm also seeing some pretty interesting data on how platforms are being used to mobilize users. For example, a study by @ACLU found that 75% of users who signed up for online petitions in 2020 were from the left 📊 Now that's what I call progress! 💪
 
🤔 so i think the left needs to step up its game on social media - we can't just be reactive all the time 🚨💥, we need to be proactive too 📈💡. i mean, it's easy to bash right-wing groups online, but it's way harder to build a movement that brings people together and pushes for real change 💪🏽🌎. Frankie McNamara is a great example of someone who's using social media to have a good laugh at the absurdity of things, but we need more of that - not just criticism 🤷‍♂️.

i'm all for giving people a platform to express themselves online, as long as it's done in a way that promotes constructive dialogue and less echo chambers 📢👥. we need to learn from the right-wing groups' ability to use social media effectively and adapt our own strategy to do the same 🔍💻. building an inclusive alternative online is key - we can't just focus on our own crowd, we need to reach out to people who might not be part of our usual crew 🤝🌈.

anyway, this is all just my two cents 😊... what do you guys think? 💬
 
I think it's so cool that there are still new voices on the online left, you know? Like Frankie McNamara's comedy vids 🤣, they're like, totally on point! And I get why the right is killing it online - those algorithms can be sneaky, right? But the thing is, I think we can create our own wave, just by being more chill and inclusive online 😊. Like, instead of competing, let's collaborate and share perspectives. We don't have to take ourselves too seriously, either 🤦‍♀️. The left has a lot of great ideas and stories to tell - it's just about sharing them in a way that feels authentic and fun for everyone involved. And honestly, I think the more we focus on building that community and sharing our voices, the more we'll start to push back against those algorithms and create something even better 🌈💖
 
🤔 imagine a big ol' circle with different parts: 🚫 right-wing groups (dark grey) are totally dominating the online space, but there's still some light on the left too! ✨ the problem is, they're using social media like a game to win, rather than having real conversations.

me think we need more than just "us vs them" mentality. 🤝 we gotta create our own thing - a platform where everyone can share their thoughts and ideas without being shouted down.

think of it like this:
- right-wing groups are playing the game of outrage ( red flag )
- left-wing groups are stuck in the game of competition ( racing cars )

but what if we combined both? 🤝 what if we created a space where people can share their thoughts and ideas without being judged, and then have real conversations to understand each other's perspectives?

that's when things might start to change. 😊
 
man I'm so done with these right wing groups taking over the internet its like they're using algorithm to just spread hate speech and misinformation all day long 🤯🚫 but at the same time I see some cool things happening on the left too like that comedian Frankie McNamara he's hilarious and he's using social media to make fun of stuff that needs making fun of 🤣 but we need more people like him not just competing with each other but actually collaborating and having real conversations about the issues that matter 💬👥
 
🤔 I think its pretty wild how the right has managed to use social media to their advantage. I mean, its not like they were doing anything new or innovative - they just figured out how to use it in a way that works for them. Meanwhile, the left is still trying to figure out how to do the same thing... but on our own terms. 🤷‍♀️ I think its time for us to take a step back and rethink how we approach online discourse. Instead of just competing with the right, let's try building something new - like a platform that fosters meaningful conversations and debates. That way, we can actually create change instead of just reacting to what others are doing. 🌐💻
 
I think its kinda crazy how social media platforms can make us all so emotional & reactive 🤯. I mean, have you seen those viral videos that just get shared over and over again? They're designed to get a reaction from us, not really to have a thoughtful convo about the issue. It's like our feeds are curating drama instead of depth 💔. On one hand, its cool to see comedians like Frankie McNamara using social media to speak truth to power and challenge norms 🤣. But on the other hand, I feel like the online left is still trying to catch up with the right's gameplan, you know? We need to find a balance between being passionate about our causes and actually listening to opposing views 👂. Maybe if we focus on building these inclusive online spaces where people can share their perspectives without fear of judgment, we can start to really shift the conversation 🔊.
 
🤔 it's wild how social media can be like a big arena where people try to prove themselves. like, on one hand you got these right-wing groups who are super good at getting attention with their provocative stuff 🚨 but on the other hand there's all this noise and nobody knows what they're actually saying 🤷‍♂️. for the left to really change the game, we need more people coming together to create a space that's not just about competing or tearing each other down 💬 it's gotta be about having real conversations and sharing ideas in a way that's constructive and respectful 👍
 
🤔 I think it's fair to say that social media can be both a blessing and a curse 📱💥. On one hand, it allows us to connect with people from all over the world and have our voices heard 👊. But on the other hand, it's crazy easy for anyone to spread their message and build an audience, regardless of how extreme or divisive it is 🤪.

I've seen some amazing comedians like Frankie McNamara using social media to challenge the status quo and make us laugh at the same time 😂. And I think that's what we need more of - people who can have tough conversations without getting too heated 🔥.

The problem is, when you're trying to counter a message that's being spread by algorithms that prioritize emotional engagement over nuanced discussion 🤖, it's hard to get your own message heard 👂. But I think the key is to focus on building our own community and creating content that's inclusive and engaging for everyone 🌈.

Let's not just be critics or competitors - let's try to have some constructive conversations with people who might disagree with us 💬. That way, we can actually learn from each other and build something better together 💕.
 
omg u guys i'm literally so done with how our online space is being taken over by those super reactionary folks 🙄 it's like they're just gaming the system and exploiting all the emotions of people out there 🤷‍♀️ like, we cant compete with their 24/7 meme factories 😂 but seriously though i think its time for us on the left to step up our game and build something better 👍 we need to start collaborating with other voices instead of just tearing each other down 💬 it's not about being right or wrong its about having a respectful conversation 🤝
 
I feel like we're living in a time where everyone's a influencer, but not everyone's having a good impact 🤯. The algorithms on social media are crazy, they're designed to get us clicking on stuff that gets a reaction, but it's all just noise in the end. I think the right has got some of this figured out, they know how to use the system to spread their message and build a following.

But at the same time, I don't want to dismiss everything that's happening online as just right-wing nonsense 🤔. There are some really talented comedians and creators out there who are using social media to say something smart and funny about the world we live in. Frankie McNamara is one of them, he's doing some great work.

I think what's needed is for us all to take a step back and think about how we're participating in this online conversation 🤷‍♀️. Are we just shouting into the void, or are we trying to build something meaningful? I'm not sure there's a one-size-fits-all answer, but I do know that we need to be more intentional about how we're using social media.

It's also worth noting that the left isn't just sitting back and waiting for the right to make all the moves 🤦‍♂️. There are some really cool projects and initiatives out there that are trying to build a different kind of online community, one that's more inclusive and collaborative. We should be supporting those kinds of efforts, not just criticizing them.

Anyway, that's my two cents 💸. What do you guys think?
 
I mean, have you noticed how everyone on Twitter is just yelling at each other lately? 🤯 It's like, we used to be able to have actual conversations online, but now it's all just about getting the last laugh or getting upvotes 💥. I think part of the problem is that social media platforms are designed to keep us engaged for as long as possible, so they're always pushing stuff that gets our adrenaline pumping 🎉. Meanwhile, on the left, we're still trying to figure out how to use these tools in a way that's actually constructive 🤔. But I think there are some bright spots – like Frankie McNamara, who's using comedy to poke fun at all the craziness 🤣. We just need to find more people like him who can help us build something new and inclusive online 💖. And honestly, I'm not sure what that looks like yet... but I think we'll figure it out 😅
 
I'm not sure if I agree with the idea that we need some fancy alternative to out-right-right-wing propaganda 🤦‍♂️. Like, can't we just call out the BS and fact-check instead? 📊 Don't get me wrong, new voices on the left are cool and all, but isn't it also possible that we're overthinking this whole 'online space' thing? 🤔 I mean, social media's been around for ages, right? 😒 What's changed now is just how easily you can spread misinformation...
 
omg like i'm not surprised lol the internet is literally just a giant echo chamber where everyone's just screaming at each other 🤯 anyway it's like super easy to see how the right-wing groups have managed to hijack everything with their fancy algorithms and emotional manipulation tactics, but can we talk about how hard it is for the left to keep up? i mean seriously, they're like "oh we need to compete on social media" no, just make a better platform and engage in some actual conversation 🤔
 
i think its crazy how social media platforms are designed to get our emotions fired up rather than having real meaningful conversations 💻😐. it makes sense that right-wing groups would thrive in this environment, but i also feel like the left needs to step up its game 🤔. we can't just sit back and watch everyone else dominate the conversation online - we need to create a space for constructive dialogue and collaboration too 👥💬. it's not about beating the other side at their own game, it's about building something better 💕. and yeah, i love that Frankie McNamara is using comedy to challenge dominant narratives 🤣. we need more of that kind of thinking online 📺.
 
I mean, can we just talk about how crazy it is that reactionaries have taken over social media? 🤯 Like, I get it, algorithms are designed to make us clickbait, but come on! It's like they're speaking directly to our basest instincts. And the right-wing groups are just so good at manipulating this attention economy, exploiting our emotions and fears... it's like they have a PhD in outrage.

And the left is struggling to keep up? 🤔 I mean, I know we've been focused on traditional media for a while, but that doesn't mean we're not getting with the times. We just need to figure out how to play this online game too... and maybe, you know, collaborate instead of competing? 💡 Like, what if we started creating content that was all about empathy and understanding? 🤝 Wouldn't that be more interesting than just shouting at each other?

And have you seen Frankie McNamara's tweets lately? 🤣 That dude is like a modern-day satirist. He's always poking fun at the absurdity of it all... maybe we should learn from him? 💡
 
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