DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the cultural impact of Black Twitter, an online community of Black users on the Twitter platform, and explores its future in the wake of Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter (now called X). Guests include Prentice Penny, the director of a new Hulu docuseries titled "Black Twitter: A People's History," Jason Parham, a senior writer at Wired who wrote the cover story the docuseries is based on, and Jay Wortham, a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine.
They discuss the rise of Black Twitter, its role in shaping online discourse, amplifying social justice movements like Black Lives Matter, and creating a distinct language and culture on the internet. The guests highlight Black Twitter's resilience and reluctance to leave the platform despite Musk's ownership, as it has become a space they feel ownership over and has given them a voice.
The episode also touches on the potential fragmentation of online communities across different platforms, the nostalgia surrounding Black Twitter's heyday, and the broader impact of social media on amplifying marginalized voices and fostering connections.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Black Twitter, an online community of Black users on Twitter, has had a profound impact on shaping digital culture, language, and discourse.
- Black Twitter played a significant role in amplifying social justice movements like Black Lives Matter and shaping political discourse, demonstrating its growing influence and power in online spaces.
- Despite new ownership of Twitter (now X) by Elon Musk, many Black users feel a sense of ownership over the platform and are reluctant to leave, as they have contributed immensely to its value and culture.
- Black Twitter has transcended the confines of the platform itself, exerting its influence and energy in the real world and holding entities accountable beyond the digital realm.
- The rise of Black Twitter created a democratized space on the platform, where users could interact and engage with celebrities and mainstream culture on an equal footing, breaking down traditional barriers and power dynamics.
- While online communities like Black Twitter may fragment across different platforms, the impact and legacy of Black Twitter will likely endure and continue to shape digital culture and discourse.
- The docuseries "Black Twitter: A People's History" aims to document and preserve the history and cultural significance of this influential online community.
- Social media platforms like Twitter have provided a space for marginalized voices and communities to connect, amplify their perspectives, and exert influence on mainstream discourse and culture.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think Black Twitter gave the Internet its own language in many ways. I think there is a social Internet pre black Twitter, and there is a social Internet post black Twitter.“ by Jason Parham
- “To me, the thing I've tried to equate that, like, the way I see black Twitter sort of left the matrix is the way, like, when neo learns to fly in the matrix, you're like, we're no longer bound by the rules and the people that run this. You're sort of seeing Black Twitter's energy just in the world and how we move in terms of holding things accountable in the real world that don't have anything to do with the platform anymore.“ by Prentice Penny
- “Twitter allowed. You couldn't separate yourself from the space if you wanted to be on this platform. You had to occupy the same space as everybody else. And we would see that in ways in black Twitter, where, you know, black Twitter would just talk to black celebs. And it was kind of like, we're kind of equal. We can all kind of exchange ideas and jokes or whatever. But then that same guardrail, I think, came down also for mainstream America as well.“ by Prentice Penny
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Episode Information
Inside the Hive by Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair
5/9/24
From ‘Scandal’ to social justice, Black Twitter has dominated digital discourse, a phenomenon Prentice Penny explores in his new Hulu docuseries, “Black Twitter: A People's History,” based on Jason Parham's 2021 feature for Wired. Penny and Parham, along with J Wortham of the New York Times Magazine, join host Brian Stelter to discuss Black Twitter's cultural impact, and its future.