Threads vs. Twitter: Can Culture and Politics Be Separated?

Threads, however, has its critics. In the design community, the new platform has been criticised for not allowing non-Instagram users to sign up; not possessing a "Following" feed (as of writing, Threads users see what the platform displays and users do not have the option of curating their own feed); and, no chat/messaging functionality. Additionally, I've seen discussions on the platform between type designers who feel the logo buttons are too dark against its white background and cause retina burn or fatigue.

Writing in Fast Company, Jesus Diaz states that: "Threads is lacking the infrastructure for doing what Twitter actually excels at helping people discover news, live sports, and events — and talk about those things in real-time." It seems this is intentional rather an oversight. Adam Mosseri, who is running point on the app for Meta, has been quoted: "politics and hard news aren't 'worth the scrutiny, negativity (let's be honest), or integrity risks." He goes on to elaborate: "There are more than enough amazing communities — sports, music, fashion, beauty, entertainment, etc. — to make a vibrant platform without needing to get into politics or hard news." This has echoes of Mark Zuckerberg's untenable position, in a 2018 testimony to Congress, that Facebook was not a media company. Historically, Zuckerberg has resisted playing editor. However, it appears that Threads main differentiation from Twitter is going to be aggressive moderation of hate speech.

This leads to the question — is it possible to separate politics from culture?

In Ways of Seeing (1972), John Berger concludes the first essay of the book by saying:

"A people or a class which is cut off from its own past is far less free to choose and act as a people or class than one that has been able to situate itself in history. This is why — and this is the only reason why — the entire art of the past is of political importance."

Berger's point is that culture is not something that exists in a vacuum. It is shaped by the political and economic forces of the time. This is why it is so difficult to separate politics from culture.

Threads, in its current form, seems to be an attempt to do just that. However, I believe that it is ultimately futile. Politics is a part of our culture, and it cannot be ignored.

Of course, this does not mean that Threads cannot be a valuable platform for cultural exchange. It can still be a place where people share their interests and passions, regardless of their political beliefs. However, it is important to be aware of the political implications of the content that we share.

In a time when social media is increasingly being used to spread misinformation and disinformation, it is more important than ever to be critical of the content that we consume. We need to be aware of the political agendas that may be behind the content that we see.

Threads can be a valuable tool for cultural exchange, but it is important to use it responsibly. We need to be aware of the political implications of the content that we share, and we need to be critical of the content that we consume.

Only then can we use Threads to build a more informed and engaged citizenry.

In addition to the above, here are some other thoughts on the liminal border between culture and politics:

Culture is often used as a tool of political power. For example, governments may use cultural institutions to promote their own ideology or to suppress dissent.

Culture can also be a form of resistance to political power. For example, artists and musicians have often used their work to challenge the status quo.

The relationship between culture and politics is complex and ever-changing. There is no easy answer to the question of whether it is possible to separate the two.

Ultimately, I believe that it is important to be aware of the political implications of the culture that we consume. We need to be critical of the messages that are being sent to us, and we need to be aware of the ways in which culture can be used to manipulate us.

However, I also believe that culture can be a powerful force for good. It can help us to understand ourselves and our world, and it can inspire us to make a difference.

I hope that Threads can be a platform for positive cultural exchange. I hope that it can be a place where people can share their interests and passions, regardless of their political beliefs. And I hope that it can be a place where people can come together to build a more just and equitable world.