In 2010, I felt very alone as an educator. I wanted change in schools, but had little support for the kind of change in classrooms and schools I desired. That's when I joined Twitter and began to connect with educators throughout the world who desired change too. These educators were invested in modernizing schools in ways that integrated technology, empowered students, and built more dynamic teaching/learning communities inside and outside of schools.
I engaged in many Twitter chats and idea exchanges for the next ten years. My Twitter colleagues in education led me to countless terrific books, conferences, courses, and ideas that I was able to readily use in the classroom. My teaching definitely improved and I was able to reach more students in better ways. I was less lonely and discouraged and more excited and enthusiastic in the classroom. I was so happy that Twitter existed.
Also, as time went on, I began to connect with many more people in a diversity of fields and geographical locations. Again, as I did with so many educators, I exchanged ideas with those people, and those people led me to countless resources to grow my understanding of government, the environment, and living in general. My thousands of follows were hand picked by me, and each of those persons brought value to my ideas and the way I lived. In many ways, my Twitter feed was like a garden of ideas.
Twitter was a lifesaver when Trump was President. Up until then, I was somewhat trusting of the government's checks and balances, but Trump's outrageous, dehumanizing, disrespectful, and dangerous behavior was frightening. With dishonesty, greed, prejudice, and disregard, he was dividing our country and destroying our government. His team of inexperienced, self-serving cronies as well as his dangerous liaisons worldwide were clearly violating our rights and welfare in the United States. Via Twitter, I began to learn more about how our government works, the ways I could positively be involved, and how the Trump team was truly harming individuals in our country and world over. Twitter definitely helped us to work against MAGAs and Trumpism by telling the truth about what was going on.
Many complained about the fake accounts on Twitter and how errant individuals used Twitter to spew hate and spread propaganda, but I mostly didn't have to deal with that as I blocked haters and those who spread false information for the most part. I used Twitter as a resource for learning and expressing my point of view.
Then Elon Musk bought Twitter. People on Twitter feared his purchase from the start since had proven himself to be a self-serving, unethical man with questionable worldwide aliances. Many left Twitter at that point. Musk tweeted troubling messages and sided with errant leaders. I thought about leaving and began trying out other platforms, but I didn't leave because I had too many good contacts and was learning a lot everyday. Then yesterday, Musk and his team kicked me off Twitter--Musk instituted a limiting factor at Twitter so that after a number of views/responses, you were restricted from Twitter use. Those that paid the verification feed had more views/responses than those of us who were not paying the fee. Musk made this decision following a week of decisions by the Supreme Court that desecrated many of our rights as a free people. It was also a weekend of many troubing Trump rallies and very frightening news from Russia. Further it was the weekend before the July 4th celebration. Musk's intent here is clear--he's a Twitter dictator who wants to control the conversation, spread of ideas, and exchange. He has not shown himself to be a lover of freedom, and he has seemingly been a money/power-hungry, self-serving White Supremacist that is ready and willing to oppress anyone he doesn't value.
Trump and Musk and Putin are all dangerous and destructive ego maniacs--they are the evil indivdiuals who are working against what is right and good in the world. They are not promoting that which helps all of us to live our best lives, but instead using their great wealth, lack of humanity and conscience, abominable egos to grab as much power, wealth, and pleasure for themselves. This is frightening.
So this morning, for the first time in thirteen years, I wasn't able to wake up and check my Twitter feed as I've been cut off by Elon Musk--he doesn't want freedom loving, truth seeking, unwealthy, expressive people like me on his feed. Instead his Twitter kingdom is one for wealthy, ego maniacs who work to oppress most others. He wants to make a lot of money and get a lot of power from Twitter--he's not a leader of free speak or the marketplace of ideas. Musk like Trump like Putin is a destroyer who will do anything to prop up his personal wealth, pleasure, noteriety, and power.
What are we to do as a people?
To me, Twitter has become like an interstate highway or international airway--it should belong to all of us who have shared so many ideas, connections, links, questions, and stories there. We are Twitter, and we should not be owned by anyone.
Like an interstate highway or international airway, Twitter should be managed by policies that make it a safe platform for idea share and exchange. We wouldn't want people dictating who can drive on the interstate or who can fly on international routes, and we shouldn't accept one person dictating who can share their ideas and how many and who cannot.
It's time for the governments of the world to manage these international ideaways with good policy that protect people's freedom of speech and the wonderful idea exchange and truth telling that's possible. Enough of ego-maniac, hateful, bigoted, freedom-crushing dictators like Musk, Putin, Trump, and others who squash the spirit, voices, and potential of people worldwide. We can do better.
Note: Later in the morning my account was reinstituted.