Sorry, not Sorry

The 99% re-platforming tax...

I’m a bit slow in putting this one out there as I have been working on some other writing. Today is an important day however as I surged past my ‘re-do’ LinkedIn profile with my Substack subscribers. A small victory (yes, really, it is) but symbolic and hey, as humans we are all about symbolism. As you can also see, the bar was set pretty low =)

“The internet is not an instrument of mass communication for those lacking brand names.” Herman and Chomsky, 2002

When I initiated the download of my user data from LinkedIn as the deadline for their new Terms of Service approached I had 1,332 connections. As of today less than 1% have made the connection across. Ouch! While low, that number tracks to other online metrics of response, engagement, and conversion that I’ve personally experienced. I made it as easy as I could to connect. According to my post analytics on LinkedIn this had 439 impressions, reaching 270 members, resulted in 10 profile views, and 5 reactions, with 1 save.

I have been paying attention to my own feelings around this decision. What I’ve realized is that I seem to have a feeling of possession over these connections. Unlike many, my connections are people that I’ve actually interacted with through business, school, or personally over the last 20 years. This does not mean that I am close to everyone nor that I interact with them on a regular basis, but I have. In doing so these people represent a knowledge-graph, of sorts. In a world of digital reach these connections also represent an aspect of digital reach. One now significantly reduced.

You might notice the humanoid icon below my profile title. This is something I’ve long used to limit my exposure to my connections. This is also why my posts are ineligible to be boosted and why, after 20 years on a platform, I don’t have 1000’s more connections. This also means that my content has not been hovered up by all the Ai platform companies. Ironic, since now I’m writing this on the public internet for all to see.

So what line was crossed causing me to commit platform hari-kari or digital self-immolation?

I was not willing to allow was the sharing of decades worth of platform interaction data with an advertising giant like Microsoft for whatever indiscriminate uses they can conjure up today, or in the future, whether directly, indirectly via their agents, assignees, or business-partners, see Accept-ing for more, due to their Terms of Service changes.

I did not want to close my account as you might have guessed by my examination of my own sentiments regarding its existence. Yet interestingly, it was that engagement with my own own thoughts that pushed me through the hesitance. Once my data was downloaded, and a few days ahead of the new terms ultimatum I closed my account. I ultimately decided to open a new account. I am not active there, but it does show I exist which in today’s online world accounts for more than I care to admit.

There was no heartbreak or tears due to the loss. None I could empirically validate. Perhaps there was an electron or two, somewhere which spun out of orbit causing a bit or two to flip - perhaps the butterfly’s wings which caused the AWS outage. Who knows! But I did get a very pleasant form email that they were sorry to see me go. You think they will refund the remainder of my Premium Subscription? I don’t think so either. Ultimately, what Herman and Chomsky said seems to be true and maybe this is why so many are now focused on developing their own brand.