Find out why Passion4Social and Catalyst are leaving X, opting to use LinkedIn for community engagement and considering using new platforms to reach our audiences instead.
Dear friends: today we are sharing a decision we’ve made to bid farewell to the X platform and the rationale behind it.
For more than a decade combined, we have enjoyed some memorable moments on Twitter / X; talking about the equitable use of digital and sharing resources, ideas and updates. Not to mention forming partnerships which are still creating impact.
Lately, we have become increasingly concerned that the platform no longer meets the needs of the communities we serve and advocate for, alongside multiple ethical concerns being flagged with the platform.
Neither does it work as efficiently as it once did, for organisations committed to inclusive accessible design.
Diversity, inclusion, and safe spaces
Passion4Social and Catalyst are working to achieve differing social missions, but our client-partner relationship goes far beyond that of any other.
It is built on shared values and ethos, as well as an equal commitment to upholding the principles of diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and accessible safe spaces.
The X platform has evolved beyond recognition in recent years, even losing its name and iconic bird image. Crucially, since X’s new ownership, there has been an increasing reduction in trust, resulting in a growing number of organisations shunning the platform: from LGBT Youth Scotland to global brands including Disney, Apple and IBM.
Regrettably, these changes, especially in management and operational policies, left us pondering uncomfortable questions:
Would remaining on X enable us to truly live those shared values and principles?
Could it hamper our capacity to create meaningful change in the communities we operate in?
The inevitable answer was yes.
A misalignment in leadership strategies
Passion4Social and Catalyst have become increasingly disquieted by Elon Musk’s unconventional, sometimes oppressive leadership strategy at X.
For one thing, fostering regenerative cultures - looking after our own and others' wellbeing - is a priority we have in common.
It also goes without saying; paying a fair wage for a fair day’s work is a cornerstone of our operations.
Following a spate of impossible ultimatums, treating whistle-blowers contemptibly, and mass layoffs; we are forced to conclude Elon Musk’s leadership tactics do not align with our inclusive recruitment and employment practices.
Meeting the needs of our communities
Changes in X’s operational policies have caused us to reflect on the role the platform plays in helping us serve the needs and wants of our communities.
The decision to dispense with X’s devoted accessibility team, for example, sends a message that accessibility no longer matters. That’s a position that we will never endorse.
Changes to the aesthetics of the platform have also excluded many disabled users from accessing some external links and third-party apps.
Another key consideration is the culture of toxicity which has taken hold as the site’s moderation has weakened.
It seems X is no longer a safe inclusive environment for all users.
Passion4Social and Catalyst feel we cannot support a platform that continues to give house room to illegal content, disinformation and hate speech.
Finally, X’s algorithms no longer function in the same way; resulting in fewer opportunities to share high quality content with our followers.
Neither do we enjoy the same access to the organisations and people we were so accustomed to engaging with.
A platform for two values-led organisations
Planning strategically for sustainable engagement with our communities, we have concluded that other platforms are more reflective of our shared commitment to DEI and safe online spaces.
Noting that no platform is ‘perfect’ but that it’s good enough for now, both Passion4Social and Catalyst view LinkedIn as the most effective means of:
- Reaching out to the people who need our services most
- Promoting our values of equity, love, reciprocity, collectivism and curiosity
- Starting the important conversations
- Continuing to create social impact.
Of course, if you already follow either or both Passion4Social / Catalyst and have any concerns about future engagement, we would welcome a conversation to understand how best we can continue to serve you through other engagement channels.
As you would expect, we will keep exploring emerging innovative social media solutions to determine the best way to connect with you all, but in the meantime, follow us on LinkedIn: Passion4Social and Catalyst
The work to find more ethical platforms continues…
At Catalyst, part of our recent transition process from being incubated by CAST to becoming an independent legal entity will include conducting a review of all of our tools and platforms.
We trialled an approach to select a document signing tool, using an ethical scoring framework (read more about this in "Inside Catalyst, April 29: one month old" weeknotes).
We intend to review all our tools, and where platforms score badly against the criteria, procure a new solution, where possible. It is something we are wholly committed to, in terms of practising what we preach and living our vision of shaping liberatory technology.
If you have any recommendations of more ethical tools we can be testing out, please let us know!
Dear friends: today we are sharing a decision we’ve made to bid farewell to the X platform and the rationale behind it.
For more than a decade combined, we have enjoyed some memorable moments on Twitter / X; talking about the equitable use of digital and sharing resources, ideas and updates. Not to mention forming partnerships which are still creating impact.
Lately, we have become increasingly concerned that the platform no longer meets the needs of the communities we serve and advocate for, alongside multiple ethical concerns being flagged with the platform.
Neither does it work as efficiently as it once did, for organisations committed to inclusive accessible design.
Diversity, inclusion, and safe spaces
Passion4Social and Catalyst are working to achieve differing social missions, but our client-partner relationship goes far beyond that of any other.
It is built on shared values and ethos, as well as an equal commitment to upholding the principles of diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and accessible safe spaces.
The X platform has evolved beyond recognition in recent years, even losing its name and iconic bird image. Crucially, since X’s new ownership, there has been an increasing reduction in trust, resulting in a growing number of organisations shunning the platform: from LGBT Youth Scotland to global brands including Disney, Apple and IBM.
Regrettably, these changes, especially in management and operational policies, left us pondering uncomfortable questions:
Would remaining on X enable us to truly live those shared values and principles?
Could it hamper our capacity to create meaningful change in the communities we operate in?
The inevitable answer was yes.
A misalignment in leadership strategies
Passion4Social and Catalyst have become increasingly disquieted by Elon Musk’s unconventional, sometimes oppressive leadership strategy at X.
For one thing, fostering regenerative cultures - looking after our own and others' wellbeing - is a priority we have in common.
It also goes without saying; paying a fair wage for a fair day’s work is a cornerstone of our operations.
Following a spate of impossible ultimatums, treating whistle-blowers contemptibly, and mass layoffs; we are forced to conclude Elon Musk’s leadership tactics do not align with our inclusive recruitment and employment practices.
Meeting the needs of our communities
Changes in X’s operational policies have caused us to reflect on the role the platform plays in helping us serve the needs and wants of our communities.
The decision to dispense with X’s devoted accessibility team, for example, sends a message that accessibility no longer matters. That’s a position that we will never endorse.
Changes to the aesthetics of the platform have also excluded many disabled users from accessing some external links and third-party apps.
Another key consideration is the culture of toxicity which has taken hold as the site’s moderation has weakened.
It seems X is no longer a safe inclusive environment for all users.
Passion4Social and Catalyst feel we cannot support a platform that continues to give house room to illegal content, disinformation and hate speech.
Finally, X’s algorithms no longer function in the same way; resulting in fewer opportunities to share high quality content with our followers.
Neither do we enjoy the same access to the organisations and people we were so accustomed to engaging with.
A platform for two values-led organisations
Planning strategically for sustainable engagement with our communities, we have concluded that other platforms are more reflective of our shared commitment to DEI and safe online spaces.
Noting that no platform is ‘perfect’ but that it’s good enough for now, both Passion4Social and Catalyst view LinkedIn as the most effective means of:
- Reaching out to the people who need our services most
- Promoting our values of equity, love, reciprocity, collectivism and curiosity
- Starting the important conversations
- Continuing to create social impact.
Of course, if you already follow either or both Passion4Social / Catalyst and have any concerns about future engagement, we would welcome a conversation to understand how best we can continue to serve you through other engagement channels.
As you would expect, we will keep exploring emerging innovative social media solutions to determine the best way to connect with you all, but in the meantime, follow us on LinkedIn: Passion4Social and Catalyst
The work to find more ethical platforms continues…
At Catalyst, part of our recent transition process from being incubated by CAST to becoming an independent legal entity will include conducting a review of all of our tools and platforms.
We trialled an approach to select a document signing tool, using an ethical scoring framework (read more about this in "Inside Catalyst, April 29: one month old" weeknotes).
We intend to review all our tools, and where platforms score badly against the criteria, procure a new solution, where possible. It is something we are wholly committed to, in terms of practising what we preach and living our vision of shaping liberatory technology.
If you have any recommendations of more ethical tools we can be testing out, please let us know!
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