One of the most fascinating dynamics of this pandemic is the Twitter/media/pundit feedback cycle. (This was documented before for other topics, too.) Now, with many top scientists not as active, if at all, on Twitter—pandemic keeps them busy—it’s gotten even more interesting.
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Finally lots of people have stopped commenting here at all because it’s so unpleasant. Pile-ons, accusations... I think retrospectively we are going to find all this is why so many things are so confusing on the surface. More so then the reality. Twitter isn’t a good source.
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Let me add this here. I’m not talking about a “good or bad” framing, but pointing out a feedback cycle that’s been documented before and one that gets stronger with time (exactly because of the feedback nature). It can exist along with the obvious other dynamics we can see.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1396529721538748418 …
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And yep, this also true. In fact, I’m struck by how similar this is to what many social movements experienced: spectacularly useful early on exactly like that, but, over time, other dynamics make it harder to get that value out of it as the other feedback cycle tightens.https://twitter.com/Busabx/status/1396468797582712843 …
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And book deals too! Publishers will pitch books to people who have witty/timely things to say on Twitter, which is a thing I recently learned
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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The signal:noise on twitter (or any social media) is pretty low, and only gets worse over time. Blue checks are no longer a helpful beacon, either. Your posts have got me through a lot of the past year and a half with my mind intact, so thanks for keeping it up!
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Not just the most accessible people, but it seems also the most quotable (read: prone to certainty and hyperbole) people.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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This is why it's important to follow a diversified set of accounts and explore beyond what the media is publishing/tweeting. I actively look for people to follow who are not like me—tends to lead to all sorts of new and different information.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Can confirm. Only reason I returned to Twitter in 2020 was to address the flood of misinformation in the mainstream press. Early on, the press leaned on subject matter experts who were available. These experts presented their opinion as fact, and often overstated their roles.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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This is huge problem in academia. Who does the work the make their research available to the public? To public officials? To the larger public? What are the rewards within the academy for doing that? (Ha ha ha ha ha ha)
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Yeah. The incentives aren’t in that direction. To be clear, many do regardless. But it’s very hard to wade through without a lot of work. And the media incentive right now isn’t to wade through—hence the feedback cycle.
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