I can’t imagine how weird it must be for Twitter’s founders to have created what is essentially a fun little living message board and now be accused or hurting or helping America with every decision about their service. They announced today during their live event that they are changing the way Twitter works:

It has four options: “Global, Group, Panel, and Statement.” Global lets anybody reply, Group is for people you follow and mention, Panel is people you specifically mention in the tweet, and Statement simply allows you to post a tweet and receive no replies.

But apparently you can still quote Tweet? I had more thoughts on Twitter:

Tech is a tool, not a savior, and while I some won’t see it this way, ultimately you are assigning that function to it by thinking that closing off conversation will somehow remedy the worst demonstrations of inhumanity on the platform.

This doesn’t make conversation easier, it makes people easier in their political prejudices. This will make it easier for them to self-segregate by ideology and reinforce the very thing Twitter seemingly was created to facilitate.

People need to grow up. Abuse is abuse, and I block or mute it when it’s particularly annoying and notify the police and rabidly follow up if it’s threatening (i.e. not protected speech but speech declaring intent and displaying motive to harm).

I hope Twitter rethinks this. While it’s been abused, it has been a tool for good. The use depends on the person. The clay can’t alter the potter.

I discussed this on radio today: