Social media platforms like TikTok have shown us the power of algorithms in shaping public discourse. Their creators developed a system designed to keep users engaged, maximizing time spent on the platform. While TikTok presented a significant challenge to traditional capitalist structures, we saw how quickly those at the top moved to coerce its owners into submission. The sale was a clear warning: platforms that challenge the status quo are not welcome.
This isn’t the case with alternatives like Lemmy or Mastodon. While they have noble intentions, they lack the clout to sway public opinion significantly. If we want to effectively combat capitalism, we must create a social media platform that competes directly with the giants. A platform that maintains user engagement like the existing ones but intentionally shifts the narrative towards leftist ideologies.
Imagine an algorithm that not only maximizes time spent online but skillfully guides users toward progressive ideas. Traditional platforms often funnel users into echo chambers, amplifying conservative viewpoints by leading them down a rabbit hole without them even realizing it. This kind of manipulation is reshaping perspectives every day, and we can’t ignore its impact.
To truly fight capitalism, we need to leverage similar tactics. We should harness the potential of algorithms to promote leftist values, empowering users to question the existing capitalist framework. By constructing a platform that encourages critical thinking, solidarity, and progressive change, we can redefine the narrative and foster a movement that resonates with a broader audience.
We must not shy away from the methods that currently dominate social media. Instead, let’s use them to our advantage. The future of resistance lies not just in alternative platforms, but in harnessing the power of algorithms to cultivate a new generation of leftists ready to challenge the system.
NGL, I’ve been spitballing this idea but it would take a LOT of organization and genuine sincerity. Clans in multiplayer games.
Save some of the in-depth nerding out over lore for later, but on the surface level, git gud at game, and infuse leftism in the clan culture as like a reverse of 4chan’s culture. If you or that clan gains any notoriety in the game community, all the better. OSRS is kind of weird as being pretty CHUD adjacent, but they have showed potential by bullying devs for being cowards and not doing a pride event in 2025.
Online, I think the name of the game isn’t to turn people into revolutionaries, but to ruin the “cool factor” of fascism. Fascism’s greatest weapon is its soft power.
I think that’s worth a shot and I am kind of tired of “the left” constantly retreating from any kind of cultural clash. Then the fascists end up festering in every corner of the gaming/online spaces and nothing is done about it, because “we got to be civil about it or we’ll become them :(((”
This is more treat consumption and lifestylism, not substantive organizing