You're not incorrect, but I think the thing that differentiates this era of social media from the "before times" (I was there too) is that it's significantly easier for non-techies to join. The internet nowadays has significantly more diversity of perspectives than back then. Those differences are exploited and exaggerated by social media companies to generate engagement. It seems to m that the fediverse model allows for diversity and sanity (or at least not algorithmically-encouraged _in_sanity).
Thanks for reading and the comment!
Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
It’s frustrating because everyone is here now, including the frustrating people.
Back when you needed to have a ton of computer knowledge to even get online, everyone who was online was at least into computers and had mostly-overlapping traits and interests. It further self-selected because you’d mostly be in hyper specific forums and chat rooms. It’s the same reason why you have a better time hanging out with people at your hobby, but taken to the extreme. You’re unlike to really hate someone who shares you interest in computers AND your obscure sci-fi movie interest. And if an assholes does wander in, they’re quickly removed.
Now, everyone is on the internet, including people you don’t want to interact with because they’re frustrating assholes. Not only is everyone online now, the current platforms insist on pushing engagement, the engagement is much broader.
No longer do you mostly hang in the sci-fi-movie forums, you’re also engaging in world news, local groups and more. And you share those spaces with everyone, including assholes. So obviously you’re going to have a worse time.
And that’s far before people started profiting off of you.