Life After Twitter
Twitter was a different universe when I joined 12 years ago. In the second year of my Journalism degree it showed me that I could network with people in the career I really, really wanted, without having to live in London. I had immediate access to crowdsourced information, and more crucially, I had instant validation at my fingertips.
Over the years that followed, Twitter shaped my thoughts into a pre-drafted quotation machine. To begin with, the benefits of the platform far outweighed the negative vibes I was getting from it. I kept up with trends and news headlines effortlessly, subliminally. It was easy to hear personal perspectives about literally any subject. I could also become one of those experts with an opinion worth listening to. I had a gang on there. I was somebody, at least in my nanoniche.
I've known it was time to leave for at least 5 years now, but I just kept holding on. I didn't expect it to get better, but I somehow expected myself to care less about it, or be less upset by the worsening state of the world seen through the ever-narrowing lens of a site obsessed with hypertrends and hyperbole. I have stopped being well-informed, something I was always proud to be, and am increasingly prone to total ignorance as a way of protecting myself from the constant barrage; something I am ashamed of. I was an activist, once.
I met some brilliant people via Twitter, and I am currently feeling lost and sad knowing that I may never speak to hundreds (maybe thousands?) of them ever again. But it's something I have needed to face for a while: how did it benefit me to have a constant confidant in my pocket, who was actually 7300+ individual accounts? What did I get out of it?
Companionship, for sure. The career of my dreams.
But also: The ever-present and irresistible urge to overshare with complete strangers instead of my flesh-and-blood friends. The worst events and opinions in modern human history hotwired into my skull. Mistaking Twitter for the mouthpiece of the entire world when that (thankfully) couldn't be further from the truth. Giving away all of my best ideas for free for the sake of a few crumbs of attention.
That's the kicker for me. I'm a thoroughbred Capricorn. If Jack Dorsey is making $978m selling Twitter, a site I've been pumping content into for the best part of my adult life, and I get flat-arse nowt out of the deal, I'm done. Peace out.
Other Stuff
I can't tell you how proud I am of Glug magazine. In fact, next week I'll be sending out a newsletter entirely packed with Glug pieces I've loved so far since the magazine began almost a year ago. As commissioning editor I get to ask brilliant writers to cover themes and topics that I wholeheartedly selfishly want to learn more about via their wonderful words -- and often I get the absolute pleasure of commissioning pieces that writers have always wanted to write. For now, take a look at Rachel Hendry's latest for Glug, on salt.
Lovely beer storytelling by ATJ for Pellicle on Wild Horse Brewing co. in Llandudno.
A three-part series by Jamaal Lemon, "Tek Cyear uh de Root" for GBH was awarded a James Beard Foundation award this week. Stunning.
Celebrating 20 years since Bend It Like Beckham's release, Neelam Tailor discovers how the film almost didn't happen.
I was really irritated by the tarot card scene in the latest season of Killing Eve [SPOILER ALERT]. If you want to know what the death card really signifies, I wrote about it a while ago. Understanding that symbolism turns what seemed like a really unsatisfying ending into something that made total sense. For me, anyway.
My Stuff
I've been working flat out on a number of projects recently so my own writing has taken something of a back seat. However there are a couple of things on Glug to read:
As my demanding projects come to their end, I'll be writing again, and blogging too. If you want to reach out to me to write something for your publication or brand, my email is katiematherwrites@gmail.com and I'll be happy to hear from you.
As always, thank you for reading my newsletter. If you enjoyed it, please consider chucking me a tip to help pay for all the hot chocolate I'm getting through this absolutely baltic spring.
Dianne Tanner 2022 for Pellicle