I encourage you to watch the film for the deeper context – I thought it was pretty good. But this simple phrase so eloquently and succinctly conveyed an idea I have been struggling to articulate.

Twitch is just one example of a broader trend that has existed in some form or fashion since the beginning of time, but has only accelerated with the creation of smartphones and social media. It is evident in what some have called “Selfie Culture.” A related term that has surfaced in more recent years is “Influencer.” With hints of “Reality TV” thrown in (and we all know “Reality TV” is far from reality).

We (I include myself in this) have become increasingly obsessed with drawing attention to ourselves. Performance. Fame. Seeking worldly validation and accolades from strangers. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others have taken this obsession a step further and have monetized it. They are exploiting us by giving us financial incentives to exploit ourselves.

It's not only self-obsession that is being monetized, but human socialization. It's distorting our perceptions of what it means to be part of a community and to interact and connect with others. We are putting price tags on activities and experiences that are (or should be) shared freely in the real world with authentic people.

The things that matter most, the beautiful things, don't ask for attention. Life doesn't seek an audience or subscriptions.

Discuss...

#Twitch #SocialMedia #PositiveNotes #life

The organization behind this boycott is The People's Union USA. They've done boycotts against Amazon and other companies before. They're politically non-partisan and are seeking to unite and organize people against “corporations, the billionaire class, and the political parasites that have been feeding off our work, our wages, and our rights for far too long.”

The stated purpose of the boycott is:

[A] strategic, peaceful act of economic resistance against one of the most powerful corporations in the world.

Amazon has become the face of unchecked greed:

• Exploiting workers
• Crushing small businesses
• Profiting off surveillance and data
• Feeding a system that no longer serves the people

It's about promoting ethical business, real community, and actual freedom in the market.

This is a cause I care about, so for the next seven days I will avoid using or spending money on the websites, apps, products, and services of the following Amazon companies, subsidiaries, and brands:

• Amazon.com
• Whole Foods Market
• Amazon Fresh
• Amazon Prime Video
• Audible
• Twitch
• Ring
• Amazon Basics
• Kindle
• Amazon Music
• Goodreads
• IMDB

Will you join us? Even for a day. I believe if enough of us care and take action, we can make a difference.

(Note: I realize a good chunk of websites and online services run on AWS, but this is a consumer boycott and for practical reasons I think it makes sense that AWS wasn't included.)

#Twitch #tech #business #privacy #PositiveNotes

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