Taylor Lorenz’s Power User The case against logging off
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May 29, 2025 Aidan Walker, a meme researcher and author of "How to Do Things With Memes," challenges the narrative that logging off social media is the solution to its ills. He argues that the internet, despite its flaws, is a vital arena for collective empowerment and activism. Discussing the role of platforms like TikTok in shaping social movements like Black Lives Matter, Walker emphasizes the need for grassroots engagement. He warns that those in power prefer a disconnected public, and advocates for active participation in digital spaces to drive meaningful change.
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Counterprogram Algorithms Creatively
- Algorithms are powerful but blunt and imperfect, leaving room to counterprogram.
- Be nimble and experimental to train and work with algorithms for broader reach.
Fight Trolls to Gain Power
- Engage trolls strategically to create counter-narratives and galvanize allies.
- Not responding cedes power and lets right-wing voices dominate unchallenged.
Internet is Real Life
- The internet is real life with real stakes and cannot be ignored or wished away.
- Ignoring harmful online voices allows them to grow unchecked and control discourse.