A new Facebook and Instagram

What follows is a long rant about social media. My thoughts on improving it or replacing it. And a link to my new Facebook page that we will use to represent my art and writing.

https://facebook.com/lenmetcalfphotographer

Yesterday I had to do a lot of driving. Well in the past few days I have driven to Wollongong and back twice to go get my son for the weekend and return him. It’s mostly freeway now that I have figured out a new route. So there is plenty of time for thinking.

My mind was off designing my own version of the two most popular social media giants. For some reason I was focused on it. Knowing I will never have the time, finances, investors nor programming skills to actually create it, I thought I would just outline them here. Perhaps someone will pick them up. Hopefully just putting the idea out into the world is enough to get something started by someone else.

Firstly, I’d be happy to pay a subscription to remove all advertisements. A free version that includes advertising for those that can’t afford to pay. Spotify uses this model. Having to pay to have my posts read is only helping those that can afford to advertise. Creatives need organic growth, not advertising.

Swipe left, right or up. To like, to hide and never see again or to continue on. Much like tinder.

Customisable feeds. We want to choose what we read. Like my RSS feed reader. Linear by time posted, like they used to be, would be one option. Trending and popular would be another. Machine learning if we must for another. We need to be able to turn this machine learning off. Then finally curated. A feed chosen by someone with taste. A real person. A bit like following someone who shares beautiful art all the time or quotes you like. I’d love to be able to scour to look for photography that is outstanding and then share it with people who were interested in seeing it. This is often what a good magazine does with their editorials.

Proper taging of posts so that we can skip and not see ones that push our buttons, and ones we do. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few more positive environmental news stories of where we are going right in the world. To be honest I don’t need to see any more American Politics.

Lastly, we need to look at how we share items of interest from the web. How many times do I click on something to find I can’t read it because it’s behind a paywall. A symbol would make that easier for us to ignore. And if Murdoch wants payment, then just block his content totally. If the author and publisher is happy for it to be shared why not share it. If they want money, well it doesn’t get passed around. Simple. This can be simple copyright. Share and share alike?

Lastly, we need to re-examine censorship. False news is one. Political campaigns run on Facebook by countries and interested parties? WTF. Conspiracy theories set up to undermine society. Censorship of sexuality and sex and not tackling hatred and violence. As an adult we need to have more say on what we can and cannot see. Perhaps it needs a proof of age, and the ability to hide nudity for those that wish. I think it comes back to customisable feeds. Facebook regularly censors art from the canon of the art world because of its archaic morals on nudity, let alone any beautiful photographs of the human race just because a female nipple or bum is exposed.

False accounts spamming must be removed.

As you can tell, I am disheartened by social media.

I’d be more interested in revisiting Instagram than Facebook atm. As it’s the words that really upset me. Just yesterday the Blue Mountains group had a link to an article on trying to get a few rainbow pedestrian street crossings approved and installed. The hatred towards the queer community was vile and disgusting. What would be more welcoming than a colourful show of support as you wander around the place.

I am slowly migrating my art to a new Facebook page and will be taking a hiatus.

Here is a link to the new one. https://facebook.com/lenmetcalfphotographer/

This means I will be sharing my work and writing there but won’t be engaging with my personal profile. Let’s see if I can give it up. Lol. It is addictive isn’t it.

We need to help those that social media is hurting too.

Anyway. That’s enough of a Monday morning rant.

Port Stephens. Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2020