This is what @Bix is justifiably complaining about — Twitter now X’s descent into shitsville for fascism.
I understand the concern here. I understand that before the Space Karen, people went to Twitter for news, entertainment, and socializing.
The reality is we shouldn't go to social media for emergent updates on the health & safety of a community. We just shouldn't.
Imagine if we used social media to guide us during 9/11. Or the regional blackout in 2003. I would be dead.
Social media is ripe with hyperbole & overinflation. You should not use that to get disaster info.
@PussyFootingAround @InUnfunky @Bix
The reality for many rural folks is that often social media is our primary reliable source for realtime emergency information.
Is it easier to hop on social media than the news website etc.?
Like when I had the active shooter in my neighborhood last month, I turned on the news. The police department was telling everyone to go to Facebook for updates. What if you don't have Facebook? I'm not on Facebook. I know if my mom was alive, there is no way social media would be feasible or humane for that age bracket.
I'm just saying. We gave Elon that power. The media became lazy because of it.
@PussyFootingAround @InUnfunky @Bix
Can't speak for other rural areas, but in my neck o' The Ozarks, there is no 24/7 news outlet. And if the radio towers with the farthest reach go out during an event, all bets are off. Scary af when there are tornadoes on the ground, believe it.
@fugitive247 @PussyFootingAround @InUnfunky @Bix
Although WatchDuty itself has been a really nice evolution and growth of Fire Twitter. A better replacement imo.
@fugitive247 @PussyFootingAround @InUnfunky @Bix
In my rural area, there’s no local newspaper, and the bigger news outlets just carry the stale disaster press releases.
Emergency info was very hard to get, which made situational awareness that much harder.
Fire Twitter basically morphed into the WatchDuty app, disaster Twitter scattered, a small group ended up on Mastodon. But it’s not what it was. It was vital. Especially during evacuations.