Topic: Shadow Ban

Adam Curry claims his X account has been artificially capped at 99,700 followers for years, suggesting a "limiter" or shadow ban is in place. Jason Calacanis admits to being addicted to X but recommends Curry use the app more to overcome the block. They discuss the "blue check" system and the psychological impact of social media metrics on long-time users.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino tells CNBC that the company is nearing cash flow break-even following significant cost-cutting measures implemented by Elon Musk. Yaccarino introduces the phrase "freedom of speech but not of reach" to describe the platform's approach to content moderation and shadow banning. The hosts criticize the corporate language used to justify limiting the visibility of certain posts.

Observations are made regarding a significant drop in engagement and potential shadow banning on Twitter under Elon Musk's leadership. A theory is proposed that Musk may be positioning Twitter as a partner for the upcoming FedNow service launching in July. This would integrate a fully functional payment wallet into the platform, bypassing the need for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

The hosts investigate reports of the No Agenda newsletter being blocked or shadow-banned by Google's algorithms, possibly due to CPAC-related keywords. This is followed by the knighting of Sir Mike of the Great Katy Prairie, who celebrated his 72nd birthday.

The discussion clarifies the difference between "shadow banning" and "visibility filtering," comparing the former to a "Bozo filter" where a user's posts are only visible to themselves. TechCrunch's perspective on the difficulty of moderation is reviewed, suggesting that total transparency is impossible without empowering scammers. The hosts reiterate their move to Mastodon as a response to centralized platform manipulation.

Mainstream media outlets express concern over Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, questioning his definition of free speech and lack of experience in social media management. Reports indicate a sudden shift in platform dynamics following the deal, with users observing the return of bots and the reversal of shadow bans. Some commentators characterize Musk's vision for open algorithms as a "word salad" while expressing fear over the privatization of public conversation.

The hosts discuss the prevalence of bots on Twitter, estimating that 30% to 50% of followers on many accounts are automated. They criticize Twitter's failure to remove imposter accounts used for crypto scams while simultaneously implementing "human-centered reporting" for subjective harassment.

The artwork for episode 1341, titled "Bunny Hugging," featured a satirical "Curry Dvorak Vaccination Site and Funeral Home" theme. Despite concerns that the image might trigger platform bans, it remained active on social media. Other notable art included a "No Mask Land" parody of the film Nomadland. The No Agenda Shop is also highlighted for its "double mask" imprint face coverings.

The hosts discuss the legal risks of publishing song parodies due to potential royalty issues, opting for caution. They promote No Agenda Social, a Mastodon-based federated server, as an alternative to Twitter. John Dvorak notes he is heavily shadow-banned on Twitter, making decentralized platforms more essential for the show's community.

The benefits of the No Agenda Social community, built on the Mastodon platform, are highlighted as an alternative to the "shadow banning" and algorithms of Twitter. The environment is described as "cozy" and "quaint," reminiscent of the early days of social media where users actually receive responses to their posts.

Bill Gates advocates for social media companies to "slow down" or annotate "disinformation" regarding masks and vaccines. He dismisses lab-leak theories, insisting the virus came from a bat, despite the hosts noting that no animal source for SARS-CoV-2 has been definitively found. A tangent follows regarding the historical origin of syphilis from llamas in the Western world.

The hosts discuss a guide published in the No Agenda newsletter explaining how to find and disable the "interests" Twitter uses to filter user feeds. They discover that Twitter's algorithm incorrectly tagged them with interests ranging from Beyonce and Cardi B to "Mukbang" and vaping.

Technical insiders provide details on the fragility of the global SMS and MMS routing infrastructure, which is largely outsourced to third-party companies like Open Market. The transition to the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol is discussed as a potential replacement. The hosts suggest that many instances of "shadow banning" on social media may actually be technical failures caused by servers being unable to handle massive data loads.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the session observing a lack of color variety in modern vehicles on the freeway. The conversation shifts to Twitter's new algorithms, which Curry suspects are suppressing his reach due to his lack of a blue verification checkmark. He notes that engagement on his posts has dropped significantly and mentions that even searching for his handle no longer autocompletes.

Donald Trump discusses fluctuating follower and engagement metrics on Twitter during the White House Social Media Summit. The hosts also mention the simultaneous "Netroots Nation" gathering of progressive activists.

Personal anecdotes suggest that the marketing impact of Twitter has plummeted, with a follower base of 100,000 generating fewer link clicks than a base of 10,000 did years ago. This decline is attributed to platform "deadness," potential shadow banning, and user laziness regarding clicking external links. The platform is described as being in a state of decay where the interface discourages users from leaving the app.

Jack Dorsey claims Twitter moderates based on user conduct rather than the content of speech. He explained that "down-ranking" or shadow-banning is an automated process driven by machine learning models that identify harassment and coordinated behavior. Dorsey expressed a desire to move toward more automated enforcement to promote "healthier" conversations on the platform.

The phenomenon of "shadow banning" is actually a function of Twitter's engagement algorithm, which surfaces replies designed to provoke user interaction. The algorithm's primary goal is to create advertising inventory by keeping users engaged through emotional triggers, often anger. This "over-socialization" can lead to real-world violence, as the machine learning models prioritize conflict over calm discourse to maximize clicks.

Alex Jones confronted Senator Marco Rubio in a hallway during the social media influence hearings, leading to a viral exchange. Jones questioned Rubio on "shadow banning" and the "Safe Harbor Act," while Rubio claimed not to know who Jones was. The interaction escalated when Jones touched Rubio's shoulder, prompting Rubio to warn Jones not to touch him again.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey defended his decision not to ban Alex Jones during an interview with Sean Hannity, stating that Jones had not yet violated Twitter's specific rules. Dorsey discussed the complexities of ranking timelines, the impossibility of using AI to perfectly filter hate speech, and the necessity of human review for cultural context. He also addressed concerns regarding "shadow banning" and algorithmic transparency.