The rationale of "we need to be on Instagram to extend our message" is not only false but also plenty of idealism. It assumes that representation precedes action, as if by magically being on that platform (or others) people would become potentially militant.
Recent examples: Barcelona had massive demonstrations for the cost of living and rent specifically last year, where people who usually wouldn't protest were there. That's an issue that obviously affects "directly" thousands and thousands.
For instance, protests concerning Rojava have a much more reduced impact and attendance, and we are talking of feminism, self-determination, and others, being at stake here. Both of them are shared through different social media, so how do you explain the contrast?
The internet can be useful as an organisational tool as we've been seen over the last years (Catalonia 2017-19 with Telegram, Iran 2025-26 with DeltaChat, Minneapolis with Signal); also to be a safe space for minorities (neurodivergence was literally born here).
But trying to fight against hostile algorithms and actually keeping those media alive by being there is in my opinion pointless. The only reason I see to be there is to tell people to leave.
#anarchism #socialmedia #meta #algorithms #fediverse #capitalism #mastodon #FuckElon
