Walt Mossberg

Walt Mossberg

@waltmossberg.bsky.social

80

Posts

Now: News Literacy Project. Then: WSJ tech columnist, AllThingsD, Recode, D & Code conferences, CTRL-WALT-DELETE. One of the older #Swifties.

Posts Replies Media

“Taking …credit for (Taylor Swift’s) enormous success is classic (and heinous), but this reads as if he’s stone cold terrified of her and her power and realizes — after a lifetime of terrorizing women — that this is the one who can actually end him...”- from @karaswisher.bsky.social on Threads.

The great Kara Swisher has published a terrific excerpt from her excellent new book @Burn Book”, due out Feb. 27. Both are great reads. nymag.com/intelligence...

Over Three Decades, Tech Obliterated Medianymag.com Kara Swisher’s front-row seat to a slow-moving catastrophe.

On this fateful date in 2001, I woke up in a Marriott hotel right between the twin towers in NY. I had planned to linger. But a last-minute meeting made me leave at 8:15, just 30 minutes before the first plane struck. The hotel was destroyed. I was saved. But we can never forget those who perished.

1/2 I have deactivated my account on Twitter (X), which began in 2007. Under Elon Musk, Twitter has not only decided to stop blocking bigots and liars and pro-insurrectionists, it has actively welcomed them, with apparent support from Mr. Musk.

People are turning office buildings - existing and planned - into lots of other places. It’s not always easy, or possible, but it’s happening. Why isn’t SF?

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It's been 100 days since Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was wrongfully detained in Russia and falsely accused of espionage. Journalism is not a crime. Free press is crucial to maintaining a free society. Especially on this difficult milestone, our newsroom #StandsWithEvan.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I find utopian science fiction (which, despite the conflicts in Star Trek I’d still say is more utopian than not) to be way more fascinating than dystopian. It can be easy to whip up stories of a bad future. It takes real imagination & effort to imagine how an advanced ethical society could succeed

According to the Washington Post, the city with the greatest density of donut shops is my home town of Providence, RI. When I was growing up there, you couldn’t drive 10 minutes in any direction without finding a Dunkin’s. #hometownachievment?

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I agree, this is certainly not a viable solution for everyone. Implementing a user friendly verification process seems to be challenging for decentralised networks, as I have yet to see something that's ready for prime time. Maybe @jay.bsky.team or @pfrazee.com can comment?

Serious question: is there a way to become verified here (not Musk paid checkmark, but really verified) to prevent impersonation?

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Happy Pride Month to the LGBTQIA+ Community! Amidst the celebrations, let's not forget that this year, more than ever, the community continues to face battles for survival and acceptance. I stand with you all, ready to fight for love, equality and respect! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈♥️

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This reminds me of what people said about Smartphones in 2010, they were wrong also.

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Sorry to get political but schools should probably have books

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Morality of the issue aside, there are three major social media platforms that welcome white supremacists with open arms. Why create a fourth? Most social media fails. If Blue Sky succeeds, it’s going to be because of Twitter refugees who want a different culture. Listen to your users.

Taking an actual stance on things seems too much to ask these days for any social media platform. I long back for the days when everyone agreed that Nazis are bad. WTF happened?

Twenty years ago today, @karaswisher and I opened our first All Things Digital conference, nicknamed D1. The guests that first year included Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Case, Barry Diller, Mark Cuban, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and more. (The iconic red chairs didn't arrive until D2.)

This is spot on. Content moderation can’t be perfect at scale, but a set of core terms of service, seriously enforced, is critical. You shouldn’t have to hang out with racists, misogynists, antisemites, homophobes, and other haters, or with abusers, harassers or serial liars.

Moderation is key to a successful social media platform. Having racist shit yelled at me isn’t discourse and I am not weak for not wanting it.

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Spaces that aren’t safe for Black people aren’t safe for trans people, or queer people, or Jewish people, or disabled people, or… Bigots don’t limit themselves to a single shitty viewpoint, and where they feel safe and comfortable, no one else can.

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just keeps getting better! https://www.mediaite.com/tv/not-a-big-social-media-guy-desantis-tells-newsmax-hed-rather-watch-cable-news-than-be-on-some-app-after-disastrous-twitter-launch/

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Hmmm...for some reason, this feels like the perfect day to make another donation to @archive.org archive.org/donate

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machinearchive.org

Swifties will pay a fortune for concert tickets and merch. They’ll stay through 3.5 hours of heavy rain, as they did at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, Saturday. But I doubt many will go for this deal I saw on the bird site.

I fear Apple is degrading its retail store experience, one of its biggest assets. The stores have long had great, timely service. But the last few times I’ve tried to shop - not get repairs - at two different stores near me, I’ve been told there’d be at least a 45-minute wait. I walked out.

I enjoyed looking back on my career with @kanewman on his podcast “The Look Back” and also discussing my current work to help fight misinformation and how AI will make the problem much worse.

‎The Look Back with Host Keith Newman: Conversations with Entrepreneurs + Influencers: Walt Mossberg on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com ‎Show The Look Back with Host Keith Newman: Conversations with Entrepreneurs + Influencers, Ep Walt Mossberg - May 5, 2023

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My latest newsletter is about content moderation. (I know.) Bluesky and other new social media apps seem to believe that you can choose not to see hate speech. But THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR BANNING NAZIS. https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/some-probably-worthless-thoughts-about-content/

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Not gonna lie, I kinda like “let’s fuckin’ go”!

omfg we might finally find out what your 'lets fuckin go' will be captain

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At its best, Twitter was a platform for collaborative journalism, combining the editorial rigor of journalists with firsthand documentary evidence from people bearing witness to world events. At its worst, Twitter is a platform for collective mass delusion, boosting conspiracists & platforming liars

Reminder: the First Amendment applies to the government. It does NOT require private entities to permit all speech. Nazi doctrine and actions killed millions - not just in the Holocaust, but in WWII overall. It should be Social Media 101 to ban Nazis and all hate speech so you have civil discourse.

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If Bluesky wants to replace Twitter as the place where political figures and journalists go to discuss the news of the day, they should consider adding anti-fascism and pro-democracy to their public benefit commitments. Democracy dies in neutrality to fascism.

You guys can just ban Nazis and transphobes it’s fine we’re all good with it

A nice obit on Katie Cotton, the longtime keeper of Apple’s image, in the New York Times.

Katie Cotton, Who Helped Raise Apple’s Profile, Dies at 57www.nytimes.com As head of public relations, she worked closely with Steve Jobs, the company’s visionary chief executive, to spread the word about products like the iMac and the iPhone.

Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” is a great album, written when she was like 20 or 21. I’m glad she’s releasing a re-recorded version with some unreleased songs.

DROP EVERYTHING NOW

Taylor Swift returns to Nashville, reveals 'Speak Now' datewww.washingtonpost.com Pop star Taylor Swift had a surprise announcement for fans in Nashville during her Eras tour when she revealed she’ll be releasing a re-recorded version of her 2010 record “Speak Now.”

Since I joined Bluesky about a week ago, Ive only used the iOS app, which I like. I’d like to try the web browser version on my Mac, but all I get is a wait list invite page. What’s the URL for existing members to sign in?