Thawing out
Post-2016 I muted my voice online to feel safe. I’ve since learned that true safety comes from connection with others. To effectively resist authoritarian threats we need to be able to share our stories safely by investing in foundational social web technologies that fight against corporate fascism.
After the 2016 election, many who saw the writing on the wall changed how they communicated online. Some took accounts private, others disengaged completely, and many deleted their online footprints. I too encountered the chilling effect after 2016. It crept in quietly as I muted my voice across the web. I stopped being prolific, locked down my accounts, and posted less, often sharing others’ words instead of my own.
The chilling effect didn't hit everyone all at once. It crept in quietly. Negativity overtaking platforms. Polarization taking hold. Algorithms stoking the flames for ad revenue. It starts to feel like the Internet as a whole has a problem, but the Internet isn't real life. Right?
Fast forward to today, and the consensus is clear: fascism isn’t just "looming". It's here and come for everyone. While speech feels more dangerous than ever, using caution and fear as guides now seems misplaced. Though silence offers a sense of safety, it's a limited kind that disconnects us when true safety depends on maintaining connections.
Along with the rise of Bluesky (propelled by Chris Hayes’ endorsement), I’ve found my online voice again and noticed others doing the same. People who had gone quiet for similar reasons are now re-engaging. This resurgence of conversation has been grounding for many of us leading to bridge building and actions taken in the real world in response to 2024's election results. After eight years, many of us whose social media voices were chilled have been experiencing a thawing effect.
This Space Cadets project and blog is the next step in my own progression. It's a place to go deeper, stretch out again, and invite longer-form dialogue.
Here's a preview of what's currently cooking in my drafts:
- Commentary on why Substack is bad for the political left and journalism, and what to do about it. (Spoiler: this blog runs on Ghost, and that’s a political choice worth talking about.)
- Why the political left should see new decentralized and federated social web platforms as strategic infrastructure, not just alternatives to corporate social networks, and invest accordingly with the big bucks. (The BIG big bucks)
- An argument for why web browser software development could be a powerfully foundational tool in the fight against fascism, especially in the "age of AI".
If you’ve been re-evaluating where and how to vocalize, organize, or build, I hope Space Cadets can be a place for you to orient towards something new. And if you’re working on related projects, I'd love to find a way to support you! Let’s connect!
-Lyre Calliope