23 December

I’ve had a few people ask me why I’m so critical of social media. There are many reasons, one of which is that my work takes me into places where the direct impact of social media on real world things happens. Like the current red alert at Chifley Dam for blue-green algae. Standard practice around the world, to prevent recreational use of public water with blue-green algae present. It’s a highly toxic organism, responsible some researchers think for motor neurone disease, amongst many other things. Read the pile-on in the comments at this Council post. This is now standard, for everything councils do. And much of it is getting increasingly aggressive and violent. In the US the parliament of the country was invaded and looted, using social media mobs. These platforms look like happy and friendly places, where we can share endless photos of ourselves ‘having a good time’. But their impact in the real world is a disaster. People doing a lot of essential work are subjected to constant daily abuse by morons.