What the everliving fuck were they still doing there
this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2026
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People leaving Twitter now is not very impressive. Less "seeing the light" and more "Trumpgret".
I'll remind you that the Debian project left Twitter over a year ago. So the EFF isn't as fast moving or comfortable with change like ... Debian.
From their mastodon:
EFF exists to protect people's digital rights. Not just the people who already value our work, have opted out of surveillance, or have already migrated to the fediverse. The people who need us most are often the ones most embedded in the walled gardens of the mainstream platforms
There are plenty of mainstream platforms to reach such people on that aren't owned by (openly) Nazi billionaires.
Hence why this article is about them leaving the openly Nazi billionaire's platform while remaining on other platforms that are mainstream and still provide a lot of reach :)
Yah, it's the EFF, they get significant latitude from their history.
Name one single mainstream (i.e. >10 million users) platform that isn't owned by a nazi pedophile billionaire.
That was valid back in, like, 2020. Everyone who ever had an interest in leaving their gilded cage, who needed help, already had more than enough time to choose. The people who stay over there now ,are because they choose to be beyond salvation.
This is not a contest to be holier than thou. It's a numbers game.
EFF stayed on Twitter because it has a larger audience and that means a larger portion of people will see their messaging. In fact, I would argue that the people that are still on Twitter are the ones most in need of seeing those messages. The people that care about what Debian is posting are almost certainly already on Mastadon.
I feel like the EFF's messaging is just not going to get through to anyone still on Twitter.
Remember, it's not a fair forum; it's an algorithm. And it's not going to show the EFF to users who need to see it.
I feel like the EFF’s messaging is just not going to get through to anyone still on Twitter.
The problem is that the fundamental catch-22 of social networks is that the content and the users reinforce each other. Self-hating/regretting Twitter/X users exist, but they are there because there are network effects, including organizations who still also use it, they are not willing to give up. Similar organizations are there because the users are still there. And yes, I do think they still see the people they want because of follows/subscriptions, even if alt-right fascism is also being thrown into their feed by the algorithm.
It sucks so many people haven't left yet, but that's why every choice to leave is worth celebrating, because it breaks down the long-term network effects every time, even at the cost of short-term value to the users or orgs.
I was listening to a podcast (informal morning show from one of the guys who founded roosterteeth) and he talked about how he got off Twitter and Facebook and everything well before the pandemic... but has been needing to get back on them just to connect with others in his community.
To illustrate what I mean more clearly, look at the top comments/replies for the NASA Artemis posts, as an example.
...It's basically all conspiracy theorists, and government skeptics.
Twitter's focusing the Artemis posts on them because it's what they want to see, and most engaging for them.
In the EFF's case, I'm not just talking about Musk's influence. The algorithm will only show the EFF to users who would be highly engaged by it. E.g., angry skeptics who wouldn't be swayed by the EFF anyway, or fans who already agree with the EFF. It's literally not going to show the EFF to people who need to see it, as Twitter's metrics would show it as unengaging.
This is the "false image" I keep trying to dispel. Twitter is less and less an "even spread" of exposure like people think it is, like it sort of used to be, more-and-more a hyper focused bubble of what you want to hear, and only what you want to hear. All the changes Musk is making are amplifying that. Maybe that's fine for some orgs, but there's no point in the EFF staying in that kind of environment, regardless of ethics.
more-and-more a hyper focused bubble of what you want to hear, and only what you want to hear
*and only what Elon Musk wants you to hear.
Right people need to understand the algorithm is biased and the company is going to prioritize it's world view over the average persons.
I don’t believe in Trumpgret.
Their hearts haven’t changed, they just don’t like being hated.
We are seeing this a lot with podcast/youtube people, like Alex Jones.
It doesn’t matter what they say now, they begged for him to be elected. They chose him and are responsible.
I believe first term Trumpgret to be more that they thought Trump was going to do things about [insert dumb ideology here] and he turned out to be [dumb ideology] personified, but they still believe in [dumb ideology]. Not that they regret the things he's doing, more that this he not doing enough of.
For example, drain the swamp. They thought he was going to get rid of Democrats who they thought were the swamp. It turned out during his first term he needed some Democrat support so he met in the middle and that pissed them off and then associated him with the swamp too.
Or building the wall and making Mexico pay for it. It turns out only a small portion got built, and came from US or private (not even his) funding.
Second term Trumpgret from everyday MAGA i agree, i don't really believe anyone truly regrets voting for him, just that they are now hated by their loved ones, and they don't see the direct causes of them voting for him and his actions hurting their loved ones, therefore their loved ones cut off contact.
Trumpgret from the likes of Alex Jones, i believe comes from a place of they never really believed in the it from the start, they just saw the easy grift and now the easy money is to jump off the bandwagon.
Progress is progress. As any sane people would repeat: perfect is not the enemy of good.
I think sane people say the opposite - perfect is the enemy of good. OCD motherfuckers like me try to rationalize perfect as not being the enemy of good, but we are usually wrong.
About fucking time.
Progress is progress. As any sane people would repeat: perfect is not the enemy of good.
I missed the "X" in that title, and read "EFF is leaving the Electronic Freedom Foundation," and was very confused.
I do that too sometimes when I just woke up, and I'm on the toilet, and my brain isn't on yet.
........you are still half asleep and functionally not all there yet mentally, right?
……..you are still half asleep and functionally not all there yet mentally, right?
Only all the time, brother. All the time.
ITT: people thinking that people already on the fediverse are the ones that the EFF needs to reach
Just call it Twitter
Well, better late than never.
Someone tell them to make a Mastodon instance.
They don't have their own instance as far as I know but they're very active on mastodon.social
It's taking way to long for people to leave twitter, just leave
I’m surprised they were still there until this point. But yeah, good for them.
I wish they would have used X (formerly Twitter) in their article title as a departing annoyance to Elon.
obligatory self pat on my own shoulder: left my 30k followers when elon took over
That took entirely too long.
X.org in shambles
We've all moved over to Wayland already...
I’m surprised people/orgs have left from all the other major milestones since 2010. Even as an early millennial growing up with message boards/chat rooms to what we have now, you would think you’ll be over all this BS. This platform should be the limit.
Again??
They left Twitter and then went back? When? I didn't hear about that.
Leaving when others are getting fucked is making a stand and having principles. Yay applause.
Going lalalalala and staying on right until you get fucked is just whatever. Don't brag please.
What stand have you ever made?