Topic: Twitter Shadow Banning

Observations are made regarding a significant drop in engagement and potential shadow banning on Twitter under Elon Musk's leadership. A theory is proposed that Musk may be positioning Twitter as a partner for the upcoming FedNow service launching in July. This would integrate a fully functional payment wallet into the platform, bypassing the need for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Mainstream media outlets express concern over Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, questioning his definition of free speech and lack of experience in social media management. Reports indicate a sudden shift in platform dynamics following the deal, with users observing the return of bots and the reversal of shadow bans. Some commentators characterize Musk's vision for open algorithms as a "word salad" while expressing fear over the privatization of public conversation.

The hosts discuss the prevalence of bots on Twitter, estimating that 30% to 50% of followers on many accounts are automated. They criticize Twitter's failure to remove imposter accounts used for crypto scams while simultaneously implementing "human-centered reporting" for subjective harassment.

The hosts discuss the legal risks of publishing song parodies due to potential royalty issues, opting for caution. They promote No Agenda Social, a Mastodon-based federated server, as an alternative to Twitter. John Dvorak notes he is heavily shadow-banned on Twitter, making decentralized platforms more essential for the show's community.

The benefits of the No Agenda Social community, built on the Mastodon platform, are highlighted as an alternative to the "shadow banning" and algorithms of Twitter. The environment is described as "cozy" and "quaint," reminiscent of the early days of social media where users actually receive responses to their posts.

The hosts discuss a guide published in the No Agenda newsletter explaining how to find and disable the "interests" Twitter uses to filter user feeds. They discover that Twitter's algorithm incorrectly tagged them with interests ranging from Beyonce and Cardi B to "Mukbang" and vaping.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the session observing a lack of color variety in modern vehicles on the freeway. The conversation shifts to Twitter's new algorithms, which Curry suspects are suppressing his reach due to his lack of a blue verification checkmark. He notes that engagement on his posts has dropped significantly and mentions that even searching for his handle no longer autocompletes.

Donald Trump discusses fluctuating follower and engagement metrics on Twitter during the White House Social Media Summit. The hosts also mention the simultaneous "Netroots Nation" gathering of progressive activists.

Personal anecdotes suggest that the marketing impact of Twitter has plummeted, with a follower base of 100,000 generating fewer link clicks than a base of 10,000 did years ago. This decline is attributed to platform "deadness," potential shadow banning, and user laziness regarding clicking external links. The platform is described as being in a state of decay where the interface discourages users from leaving the app.

The phenomenon of "shadow banning" is actually a function of Twitter's engagement algorithm, which surfaces replies designed to provoke user interaction. The algorithm's primary goal is to create advertising inventory by keeping users engaged through emotional triggers, often anger. This "over-socialization" can lead to real-world violence, as the machine learning models prioritize conflict over calm discourse to maximize clicks.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey defended his decision not to ban Alex Jones during an interview with Sean Hannity, stating that Jones had not yet violated Twitter's specific rules. Dorsey discussed the complexities of ranking timelines, the impossibility of using AI to perfectly filter hate speech, and the necessity of human review for cultural context. He also addressed concerns regarding "shadow banning" and algorithmic transparency.

The hosts debate the functionality of social media feeds, comparing Twitter's chronological order to Facebook's algorithmic sorting. There is a discussion on "shadow banning" and how platforms may be filtering political content, such as the feeds of Representative Devin Nunes. One host argues that Facebook is losing users due to poor interface changes, while the other maintains that the platform remains dominant despite personal grievances.

Congressman Matt Gaetz and other Republican lawmakers have filed complaints with the FEC alleging that Twitter's search auto-fill feature suppressed their accounts. Twitter denies "shadow banning" based on ideology but admits to ranking "bad faith actors" lower in search results to promote "healthy conversation." Critics argue this practice constitutes an illegal corporate contribution to political opponents.

Project Veritas released undercover footage of Twitter employees discussing "shadow banning" and providing user data to the Department of Justice. The discussion also touches on the lack of "verified" status for the podcast hosts despite their professional accolades, including a Marconi Award.

The history of political misinformation is traced back to "dirty trick" phone calls and chain emails, such as those used in the Florida gubernatorial race between Jeb Bush and Lawton Chiles. The current focus on "fake news" is viewed as a precursor to increased censorship on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The hosts predict that non-verified users will face shadow banning or algorithmic suppression.

John C. Dvorak complains about changes to Twitter's search algorithm that make it difficult to find Adam Curry's profile. He notes that searching for "Curry" now prioritizes NBA player Stephen Curry, even though Dvorak and Adam Curry follow each other. The hosts discuss the possibility of "shadow banning" and the general decline in Twitter's usability for connected users.