I just read Anil Dash’s post about some internet jargon. And, I first thought “yeah well, that’s the algorithm game”. But then, it became — once more — apparent to me, what it actually means. And Anil nails it quite well with this:
“One of the things that’s most concerning to me is that an entire generation has grown up not realizing how extreme it is that their very language is being chosen for them by platforms run by people who hate that generation’s ability to express itself, and who hate the things it has to say.”
@anildash@me.dm
And it’s not just about avoiding certain words, but also behaviour: adding the right words to be found, putting links in comments or just avoiding them, etc. (BTW: I once was shadowbanned on Instagram with my photography profile .. likely because I used the word “shots” ..)
This is not freedom of speech. This is a trick game we shouldn’t have to play. And we do not have to, we just need to leave those platforms. I love my blogs, I love my fediverse accounts, … Yes, on a fediverse server I also have to play by the rules of that server. But these are social rules, not rules of engagement. And I am free to switch to another server.
Read the full article: https://www.anildash.com/2026/10/06/kill-unalive.
And try out the fediverse!:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse
- https://joinmastodon.org (Just try mastodon, don’t overthink it. I’ve done so – and did regret it)
