Teachers Exiting Twitter?
In the world of education, social media platforms play a significant role in networking and professional development. However, recent concerns about the ethics and future direction of Twitter have led some educators to consider alternative platforms.
One such platform gaining traction is Telegram, favoured by teachers who decide to leave Twitter. Facebook, on the other hand, remains a popular choice, with many educators still actively using it for networking. In fact, Facebook is the most studied social media among K-12 teachers, and a majority of them are still found on the platform.
Joshua M. Rosenberg, an educational technology expert, predicts that if teachers were to leave Twitter en masse, there would be more than one replacement for the social media site. Mastodon, an open-source, decentralized, self-hosted social network, is one such potential replacement.
Mastodon has been discussed as a viable alternative due to its decentralized nature, which some educators find appealing. However, one potential obstacle to its adoption is the requirement for users to choose a server. This could be a barrier for some educators who value the ease of use that platforms like Twitter and Facebook offer.
Another platform that has been mentioned in this context is Reddit, known for its norm of anonymity. While this can make it a different place for educators to connect, it remains an option for those seeking less toxic environments.
Instagram and TikTok, while popular among influencers, tend to be less networking-focused for educators. As a result, they may not be the first choice for those looking for professional connections.
Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter at the end of October 2022 has added another layer of uncertainty to the platform's future. This uncertainty, combined with concerns about the platform's ethics, has led some individual educators to already leave Twitter in search of less toxic platforms.
Jeff Carpenter, Professor of Education at Elon University, has observed discussions among educators about leaving Twitter. One concern he notes is where contacts will go if they leave the platform. The closed nature of Facebook groups can create a barrier to networking opportunities for educators, making the search for alternative platforms even more pressing.
Christine Greenhow, an educational psychology professor at Michigan State University, notes that Mastodon is still in startup mode and relatively new. Despite this, Rosenberg suggests that there will be a greater proliferation of different spaces, social media and others, that teachers turn to achieve the same goal.
For many educators, the decision to leave Twitter may result in spending more time on Facebook. However, the ongoing discussions and exploration of alternatives indicate a desire among educators for platforms that align more closely with their professional needs and ethical standards.
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