A day or two ago, I spied a message on the internet that said journalists would suffer if the social networking site was shut down. There is some truth to that, but it is also true that there is value beyond that for journalists and other users of the internet.
As the rest of the employees flee the chaos caused by midnight email ultimatums, it is safe to say that the business is in disarray.
Reports say that the most recent missive triggered a mass resignation. It is reasonable to ask how many people are left to run the site after the layoffs.
The team on the tech site had a conversation about what they would miss if it was gone. It felt like a game at the time.
There is a way for people who otherwise wouldn't connect to do so on the social networking site. It gives us a place to express ourselves and keep up with what's going on in the world.
“It’s hard to imagine anything could replace Black Twitter. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that we’ll always find our way.” Dominic-Madori Davis
There are many negatives to the platform and it is easy to spread misinformation and hate speech, but there are many positives.
It seems like it could.
Several employees of the website contributed what they would miss most if the social networking site went away.
I don't know where to begin to describe the impact BlackTwitter has had on the world. When I was a teenager, watching so many Black people mobilize to bring awareness to the fatal shooting of Martin, we all shared experiences and made jokes as to what it was like having Thanksgiving with a Black family. When it is time to leave, the plate you hid is gone.
The support and heat we give and place on people and topics is endless. It was a place for us to come together. Sometimes it feels like it's its own world. A few years ago, I went to the club to hear the talks and then ran to the social networking site to see the conversations.
The thread from a few days ago brought back memories of Kira J hosting a game show. Dates for 500 should be famous. What were the Black people waiting to get on December 21st? The power of superpowers. Don't fret, they're coming still. They are running on the clock.
What happened in the community was not out of the ordinary. Everything changes when it hits the Mainstream. You are in the shower. The humor, sarcasm, and the "Wait, did we all have the same childhood?" are things that non- Black people don't understand. I used to ask, "How does one get into BlackTwitter?" It isn't as easy as people just give invites to the cookout.
“I really want a place to post sentence-long shitposts with no punctuation, and I don’t know where I would go if I couldn’t do that on Twitter anymore.” Amanda Silberling
I don't know what it's like not to be in BlackTwitter.
What do people think when they see a photo of Chris Evans with a honey mustard bonnet? Philip Lewis is the one who gives other people their news. I will not be able to see something that says that it has to be. The camaraderie in the physical world is not easy to make or reciprocate. I think I would miss the people who tell people to start a business and become entrepreneurs. Do you want $500,000 or dinner with Jay-Z? Take the money and go.
Brooklyn White-Grier, the features editor at the magazine, asked everyone what they were going to wear to the service. We started picking out our hats after someone made programs. I was excited to get an extra low plate at the repast and would probably show up with slicked-back baby edges, like Zendaya did to the awards.
It is hard to imagine a substitute for BlackTwitter. History has shown us that we will always find our way.
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