All Newcomers…
Welcome to CoSo 😊
Here is the User Guide:
https://counter.social/userguide.pdf

Some suggestions: Check out the profile of @realDDGlover for lists of Hashtags to find common interests. Just click ID and it will open in right-hand column. Hashtags are explained on page 7 of the Guide above.
Try # cosotips too.
Follow a few folks from the Firehose who interest you and settle into a friendly community.
Also, we love pet/animal pics. Here’s my cat saying ”stop with the pics” 🤣💕🤣

I used Twitter for news feed. Who should i follow for latest world news?

Just a note for the new folk trying to figure stuff out:

This site is run by one person (who is currently very, very busy keeping us afloat in the midst of a rapid growth spurt and DDoS attacks).

That’s okay, though, because people here support each other so that Jester can focus on the things only Jester can do.

The user guide is here: https://counter.social/userguide.pdf

Follow @CoSoTips (or the #CosoTips hashtag) for pointers, and use #help if you need help.

Welcome to #AnimalCaucusTrivia!!

If the timer runs out on the POLL, you can still answer the question…the timer is only there to make the game move along.

Please message me with any questions you may have about #Gamenight!

"What does SANITIZER mean?"

CounterSocial cares about your security. When you post a URL, the sanitizer will scrub personally identifiable information from your links. It also removes all metadata from your pictures.

If you ever wish to post a URL with tags intact, just add "nosanitize" (without quotes) to any part of the post text. #CoSoTips

Over on the other app, I put this thread out earlier today. Decided to share it here as well.

It was in response to this very understandable expression of frustration.

This is a problem. But there's also a partial -- not perfect -- remedy. 🧵

3. One is https://statesnewsroom.com, which now has state news outlets in more than 30 states. (I'm at one of those: https://WisconsinExaminer.com.) No paywalls, no ads, no click-bait sponsored content. Support by donors and philanthropy, from which we are independent.

4. Another is public broadcasting, where we got the idea from. Https://wpr.org and its counterparts in other states are paywall-free as well. At least some put all their content up online where you can read it and share it.

5. There's also ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/) and similar alternative, fact-based news organizations. A source for important news that holds power accountable. Again, many states have their own equivalents, like Wisconsin Watch
(https://wisconsinwatch.org/) here in the Badger State.

6. And there are some news outlets that still rely on paid subscriptions, but don't block you from viewing their content (although they might nag you to help pay for it). I am specifically thinking of
https://www.theguardian.com/us.

7. Paywalls are a pain, and they're also an understandable strategy for an industry for which the old business model has been long broken.

8. I maintain a number of paid subscriptions myself. I hope at some point, we figure out a more universal way to resolve the paradox that the screenshot points out: Ensuring that the free crap doesn't dominate the flow of information.

9. But in the meantime: There are good, factual, non-paywalled news and information sources out there. They aren't perfect, but they are rooted in the values of journalism, not propaganda. Get to know them, read them, share their content, & give them your support.
Fin.