Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 48

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #693

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another:

Wet Shapes – Adult Swim Infomercials – YouTube. “Since I’m doing absurd videos this week, anyone remember Adult Swim‘s weird shorts? I’m not going to post Too Many Cooks, because that’s simply too dark, but this one’s pretty close. Only you can help fight Wet Shape Degenerative Disease. Adult Swim, sometimes we didn’t deserve you.” (Alistair for Hugh). Burning Man 2010 – Ashram Galactica – Not gonna be a show – Bronson Vieira – YouTube . “I recently finished Ted Lasso, and absolutely loved it. One of the creators (who played Coach Beard) is a Burner from Montreal, and there are easter eggs all over the episodes. Season 2, Episode 9, Coach Beard After Dark, is basically a mini-Burn, complete with a meltdown at the Temple (a church) and a ride in an art car (a Limo). As I went down the rabbithole of his history, I found this video of a musical he performed from Burning Man 2010, with Brendan Hunt. Genius.” (Alistair for Mitch). The case for doing (almost) nothing about climate change – National Post . “Ever since I saw a talk at Bitnorth about climate change, I’ve been fascinated by the (scientifically based) counter-arguments to the dominant messaging on climate change (ie that humanity is at existential risk soon). The speaker, a non-expert, tried as hard as he could to dig into the worst case scenarios for climate change, and came away underwhelmed. Sea level rise, yes, migration, yes, health impacts (sort of) etc. are real problems, but perhaps less damaging than we believe, and maybe not as bad as some of the cures we are fixated on imposing. I started working on climate change policy in the energy industry in 1998, continued working on alternative energy until around 2005, so I’m a true believer. But recently I’ve started questioning how we think about climate change. A single for instance: I saw a recent piece about how much migration will be forced due to sea level rise by 2070 (lots!). But that begs the question: How much migration has happened in the past 47 years? Answer: A huge amount. For instance 20% of Canadian residents were born in other countries. That doesn’t make climate migration easy, but it’s likely not existential. In any case, I am reading more these days suggesting we should continue our efforts on climate change, but with just a little less (rather than more) panicking dread in our hearts. Here’s another provocative article in that vein.” (Hugh for Alistair). These Island Homes Were an Affordable Dream – Until Residents Started to Age – Bloomberg – CityLab . “If you are ever in Toronto and have an afternoon to kill, I highly recommend a visit to the Toronto Islands, the largest urban car-free community in North America. These islands are just a short ferry ride from downtown Toronto, and brings you right into cottage country in minutes. It’s an amazing place. I did not realize though that the Islands are managed by a Land Trust, which restricts how properties can be bought or sold, with a waiting list of potential buyers and price restrictions keeping the houses affordable (cool eh?). However, the laws of unintended consequences are hard to avoid, and the result of the price controls is that older members of the community are stuck. Prices/house values on the Islands have not kept pace with Toronto’s chronically overheated real estate market, with average prices at $1.16 million. So you sell your island paradise home for 400k, and can’t buy anything in the City of Toronto. This is especially problematic for older people who can no longer live on the Islands.” (Hugh for Mitch). The ends of knowledge – Aeon . “There are so many questions about the value and the future of what the post-secondary world of education might look like. Disruption from all sides, and now a growing concern that AI is coming for everyone who works with their brain (most of us?!?!). From this article: ‘We believe the time has come for scholars across fields to reorient their work around the question of ‘ends’. This need not mean acquiescence to the logics of either economic utilitarianism or partisan fealty that have already proved so damaging to 21st-century institutions. But avoiding the question will not solve the problem. If we want the university to remain a viable space for knowledge production, then scholars across disciplines must be able to identify the goal of their work – in part to advance the Enlightenment project of ‘useful knowledge’ and in part to defend themselves from public and political mischaracterisation.’ There is so much rich content to think about in this article, and it’s not just about Academics, but… it kinda is.” (Mitch for Alistair). There’s never been a better time to listen to comic books – Fast Company . “What’s wrong with me? I love podcasts. I love comic books. Comic book podcasts, you say? Sure, I know all about the pods hosted by passionate comic book nerds disecting why, exactly, Alpha Flight continues to be a vastly under-used asset in the Marvel universe, but serialized story content featuring these amazing comic book characters and original stories? I don’t know about you, but count me in… it sounds like the perfect audio companion to a flight or walk in the woods…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X/Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Mike Watt On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

Mike Watt is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

Groove – Episode #106: Mike Watt by No Treble

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #106 – Mike Watt.

Who is Mike Watt?

If the electric bass had a pantheon, Mike Watt would undoubtedly have his own shrine. Known for his unparalleled musicianship, innovative bass playing techniques, and songwriting prowess, Mike has carved a unique niche for himself in the world of rock and punk and beyond into the world of “no genre”! From his early days with Minutemen, to fIREHOSE (a personal favorite) and his solo projects, Mike’s approach to the bass guitar has always been revolutionary and eclectic (much like the way he tells stories). Rather than just being the backbone of a track, his bass lines take center stage, setting the mood, melody, and often the very core of his songs. His technique, combining fingerpicking with aggressive strumming, produces a sound that’s both raw and melodic, a testament to his belief in the bass’s versatility and importance. Songwriting, for Mike, isn’t just about catchy hooks and verses. It’s about storytelling. It’s about painting vivid pictures with sound (including the creation of his own operas). His lyrics, much like his bass lines, cut deep, offering listeners a blend of introspection, political critique, and personal narratives. In songs like ‘Double Nickels on the Dime’, his bass doesn’t just support the music — it is the music. Now, as we delve deeper into his perspective on bass playing, it’s clear that for Mike, the electric bass isn’t just an instrument — it’s an extension of his voice and it’s almost like the drums. On this episode of Groove – The No Treble Podcast, he dives into how he sees the bass guitar in his music and songwriting. To Mike, the bass is both a rhythm keeper and a melody maker. It’s a tool to communicate feelings, stories, and even ideologies. It’s not just about playing notes – it’s about conveying emotions, pushing boundaries, and constantly evolving. Currently on tour with MSSV (aka Mike Baggetta, Stephen Hodges, and Mike), the band jams and builds on Mike’s signature style. MSSV is an exploration of sound, taking listeners on a sonic journey that melds punk ethos with improvisational jazz and much more (go and check them out). The project encapsulates everything Mike stands for — experimentation, collaboration, and a refusal to be confined by genre or expectation. For decades, Mike has showcased the boundless possibilities of the electric bass. His legacy, from trailblazing punk anthems to avant-garde collaborations, is a testament to his dedication to the craft. One thing remains clear: Mike Watt’s groove is eternal. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #106 – Mike Watt.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends). 

Navigating the Meta-Maze – Where Exactly is this Metaverse?

Do you even metaverse?

Last week, I attended the Fintech Forum in Montreal to spend some time with Alex Tapscott.
We recorded an upcoming episode of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast to discuss Alex’s latest book, Web3 – Charting The Internet’s Next Economic And Cultural Frontier (it’s a must-read book).
In that conversation (and in a recent podcast with Cathy Hackl – author of Into The Metaverse), I keep revisiting the same perosnal challenge that I have: Defining the metaverse.
Is it the hardware?
Is it the software?
Is it a platform?
Is it a philosophy?

Is it just another name for “what’s next”?

Last week, Meta held their annual Meta Connect event to discuss their upcoming product launches.
It was a litany of pokes and prods toward the metaverse.

The output of it was:

Meta Quest 3 (with full-color passthrough technology). Xbox Cloud Gaming (including virtual screens).Emu (Generative AI stickers). Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses (moving the camera and content from your phone to your face). Meta AI (something that could be competitive to ChatGPT) and more.

I think there’s a “there”… there.

It’s just not today.
Which makes it hard for us to understand and accept in the here and now.
Ultimately, I believe that the further convergence of our digital and physical worlds is an inevitable.
New user experiences, more expansive social connections, better education and training capabilities, moving beyond the screens of today, and more.

Still, many people simply think this is all a huge waste.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Navigating the Meta-Maze – Where Exactly is this Metaverse? – The Elias Makos Show

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out

With or Without U2 – The Sphere Is An Unforgettable Fire In Tech

Whether you like the band, U2, or not, The Sphere and what they’re doing is a technological leap forward in innovation.

Before digging into this, go to TikTok or YouTube and search for “U2 The Sphere”… prepare to have your senses sparked.
The Sphere is that big round orb venue in Las Vegas that you may have seen in the media and build-up to its grand opening this past weekend.

The tech and build of The Sphere is wild:

The Sphere cost $2.3 billion to build.It seats 18,600 fans.Billed as the largest 16k LED screen in the world, it has 268,435,456 pixels, the equivalent of 72 HD televisions.The more-than-semi-circular screen is about 35 stories tall (it really captures your entire field of vision).You can’t see any speakers. The audio system consists of a complex matrix of speakers – 167,000 in total – seamlessly integrated behind the screen and throughout the venue.

The Sphere will also be built in London and smaller ones are planned for other markets (and here’s a great read about this all: Wallpaper – How to conquer the Atomic City: the story behind U2 at the new Las Vegas Sphere).

If you have, at least $1000 USD, you can check out U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere, which will run September 29th – December 16th 2023 (but will, surely, be extended) to celebrate the opening of The Sphere and celebrate the band’s Achtung Baby’s 30th anniversary.

With that…

What bands will be able to afford to play here (rumors are Harry Styles might be next)?
How can any other bands do this at the level that U2 committed?
How different is this tech from current live band productions?
Does all of this perpetuate the inability for most people to afford a great live show?

And, perhaps, my biggest fear/concern/excitement: Does all of this tech take away from a live band performing?

What is Tech Tuesday?

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM and Jack 103) on the air at 95.9 Star FM to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture.
We call it Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Once the segment goes live on 95.9 Star FM, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage.

Mitch Joel · With or Without U2 – The Sphere Is An Unforgettable Fire In Tech

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out

Cara Brookins On Getting Unstuck – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #898 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

Have you heard the story about the mom who built her own home with her four kids using YouTube videos? That’s my friend, Cara Brookins. Cara built software systems for 20 years as a software architect, but when her life crumbled around her, she turned herself into a builder and architect of a different kind… With no construction experience, Cara and her children built a 3,500 square foot house from the ground up by watching YouTube tutorials. Convinced that by building a house, they could rebuild their broken family, she and her kids poured the concrete, framed the walls, and laid the bricks. In the end, they had built a two-story, five-bedroom home. Using real-life examples from her unconventional construction site, Cara now helps organizations by focusing on teamwork, perseverance, and the resilience in each of us to overcome incredible odds. Her tactics of self-empowerment show how to blend an imperfect mix of personalities, talents, and temperaments into a cohesive, unstoppable team. While her story went viral in more than 75 countries and has been viewed more than two billion times, Cara has become a go-to expert for getting people unstuck and moving on their projects in business and beyond. Her first non-fiction book, Rise, is a must-read memoir that traces her family’s rise from battered victims to stronger, better versions of themselves. Her latest book, Unstuck – End Procrastination Using The Ancient Psychology Behind How-To Videos, offers the tools your team (and you) can use to overcome procrastination and reshape the way you think about productivity. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #898 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #899 – Cara Brookins On Getting Unstuck

Welcome to episode #899 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #899.  Have you heard the story about the mom who built her own home with her four kids using YouTube videos? That’s my friend, Cara Brookins. Cara built software systems for 20 years as a software architect, but when her life crumbled around her, she turned herself into a builder and architect of a different kind… With no construction experience, Cara and her children built a 3,500 square foot house from the ground up by watching YouTube tutorials. Convinced that by building a house, they could rebuild their broken family, she and her kids poured the concrete, framed the walls, and laid the bricks. In the end, they had built a two-story, five-bedroom home. Using real-life examples from her unconventional construction site, Cara now helps organizations by focusing on teamwork, perseverance, and the resilience in each of us to overcome incredible odds. Her tactics of self-empowerment show how to blend an imperfect mix of personalities, talents, and temperaments into a cohesive, unstoppable team. While her story went viral in more than 75 countries and has been viewed more than two billion times, Cara has become a go-to expert for getting people unstuck and moving on their projects in business and beyond. Her first non-fiction book, Rise, is a must-read memoir that traces her family’s rise from battered victims to stronger, better versions of themselves. Her latest book, Unstuck – End Procrastination Using The Ancient Psychology Behind How-To Videos, offers the tools your team (and you) can use to overcome procrastination and reshape the way you think about productivity. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 59:15.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Cara Brookins.Unstuck – End Procrastination Using The Ancient Psychology Behind How-To Videos.Rise.Follow Cara on Instagram.Follow Cara on LinkedIn.Follow Cara on X.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #899.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #692

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another:

The SG-1 – Weber Workshops. “I feel a tremendous sense of cognitive dissonance these days. Climate change ravages cities around the world, while Burning Man attendees tout their resilience in the face of an inch of rain. Inflation is forcing people to choose between food and medicine, while products like the SG-1 exist. And while I’m a fan of superb, minimalist design, the endgame of scarcity has to be a $75,000 coffee grinder, one unit available.” (Alistair for Hugh). Dilla Time – The Ethan Hein Blog . “James DeWitt Yancey, aka Dilla, transformed modern pop music. In writing a review of Dan Charnas‘ book Dilla Time, Ethan Hein tries to explain why Dilla’s iconic rhythmic ‘sloppiness’ works: ‘But why does it sound so good? I am trying to figure that out.’ Mitch, you’ll probably love this deep-dive into microtiming and rhythms.” (Alistair for Mitch). Morality is for Promoting Cooperation – Mark Alfano Interview – Jason Chen – YouTube . “Mitch, Alistair and I had lunch the other day. A big focus (of course) of the conversation was AI. I was particularly interested in where human’s value-add advantages reside in a world of increasingly sophisticated and human-like AI (my theory is roughly something like: problem identification/framing will continue to be a space humans will exceed). This talk somehow feels parallel to the AI question — though maybe that’s a tenuous reach (?) — but the question of ‘what does morality mean’ seems existentially important in our increasingly polarized times. This model posits that morality exists to encourage/support collaboration. This leads me down a path thinking about human value as comprising of three things: Our ability to abstract time (ie to consider the far past and imagine the far future), our ability to identify problems to which we can apply creative solutions, and a moral underpinning that supports complex collaboration spanning abstracted timeframes. Not sure where that leaves me!” (Hugh for Alistair). The Roots of Identity Politics – A Conversation with Yascha Mounk – Making Sense . “Count me among the left-leaning middle age white men deeply uncomfortable with the current intellectual climate around certain issues (race, gender, colonization, western civilization). I have two big criticisms about where we stand: 1/ the lost space for conversation and debate about many of these issues, and 2/ (somewhat related, since we’re not really allowed to talk about them) the uneasy feeling that many of the solutions proposed cause more damage than good. In any case this (quite balanced) conversation was helpful in shedding light on the intellectual history of some dominant strains of current progressive political positions, as well as the some of the impacts that might not be apparent to those of us paying less attention.” (Hugh for Mitch). Yoel Roth warns new X CEO about Elon and company status – Code 2023 – The Verge . “There is (and will continue to be) a lot of conversation of how X (formerly Twitter) fits into the media landscape and the general way that social media and our conversations flow. The other day at Code 2023, drama unfolded. First, there’s this. A very last minute addition to the event was conversation with Yoel Roth – former Head of Trust and Safety at Twitter, who was interviewed by Kara Swisher (who just happened to be on stage an hour before Linda Yaccarino, current X CEO, took the stage). I’m cheating a little here with a second link, because below is also the interview with Yaccarino, who is (clearly rattled by what Roth said and/or was greatly unprepared to answer very general questions about her role, vision and path forward for X). And, as the world turns, we get another glimpse into what’s been happening at X and where this all (might) lead? If you’re interested in tech, media and general business leadership, please spend the time to watch these two interviews.” (Mitch for Alistair). Mark Zuckerberg: First Interview in the Metaverse – Lex Fridman Podcast #398 – YouTube . “Let me caveat this week’s choice with this: What you are about to watch is a parlor trick. There was a lot of work and technology that happened behind the scenes to make this look like Meta made a huge leap forward in virtual communications. Bodies were scanned, code was written, and more. This is not ‘off the shelf’ and can’t (currently) be done by the rest of us. They’re also not trying to fool anyone, either. In this conversation, they go through what it took to get them both to this point. Now, with that… wow. Sure, there are glimpses of the uncanny valley and it’s hard to reconcile that this avatar tech will be the future vs. something more video-based. Still, if this is what it looks like on YouTube, I can’t even begin to imagine how incredible the experience must be when you’re ‘in it.’ Now, along with the magic of how quickly this tech is evolving (and, what exactly the metaverse might be), you also get a great conversation lead by Lex Fridman about what the next few years will look like from Meta, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and beyond. Still, I readily admit, that I was challenged to ingest the content, because I was so mesmerized by the tech.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

20 Years of Six Pixels of Separation

It was on September 29th, 2003 that I first created and posted to this blog.

There are not many things in life that we consistently do for twenty years.
It wasn’t long after that when I published the first episode of the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast (that was May 22nd, 2006).

There are countless lessons we learn from doing things with consistency.

These days, I often think about the saying: You pay for things with either discipline or regret.
That… and: I publish a new episode of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast every Sunday… because it’s Sunday.
I don’t regret a post.
I don’t regret an episode.
From every word written and spoken, I have grown.

What have I really learnt from posting regularly over 20 years?

I’ve learned that it’s very easy to do the things that you can’t stop doing.
And, yes, it’s that simple/hard.
Writing and having conversations is hard work.
When something looks easy, that’s because (most) people don’t know/can’t image/can’t see the years of toiling in the dirt that happened before the output or the work.
The hours of labor going on behind the scenes to make it happen are where the real struggle (and work) takes place.
But, hard work is easy when you don’t ever want to stop doing it.

If you can find something like that in your life, then you have also truly defined “success.”

I’d love to rattle off a list a names and companies that have helped bring Six Pixels of Separation to life, but there isn’t one.
Sure, I have the good people at Plank (thanks, Warren and Kayla) who make sure that the servers are running, and that every bit of software and plug-ins are up-to-date, but this is – truly – my solo project.
I write every word.
I edit every post.
I choose every photo.
I input it all into WordPress and ensure that it gets published.
I manage MailChimp to ensure that an email goes out to the thousands of people who subscribe to it (and if you would like to subscribe, just input your email here).
I choose every guest for the podcast.
I organize and handle every recording date.
I record the episodes on my own.
I edit the episodes on my own.
I input it all into Libsyn, WordPress, etc. and ensure that the show gets published every Sunday.
I’m pretty sure I could get someone else to do it.
It would probably save me a lot of time to do this.

But this is me.

20 years in.
No thoughts of throwing in the towel.
More words and conversations to have.
More words and conversations to share.

I’m glad that you’re here for the ride.

I’m ok if you decide that this is not for you.
Selfishly? I’m not doing this for you or to grow an audience.
I do this because it’s the one thing that truly forces me to stay present, think, express that thinking, be wrong, think again and keep growing.
It forces me to think about tomorrow… the future… and how we can decode it to make our work better.
Reading and thinking is great.
It’s just not enough for me.
This is the extra layer that forces me to grow.
With that, thanks for joining me on this long and winding road.

Here’s to another 20 years…

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Facebook’s Split Personality – The Case For (And Against?) Fake Profiles

Would you like to have more than one profile page for yourself on Facebook?

This is done (often) on Instagram… and they’re known as “Finstagrams” (or… Fake Instagrams).
Well Facebook users can now create multiple profiles within a single account (see: The Verge: Facebook officially embraces fake profiles).
Is this a good or bad thing… for the platform… and for the users?

The good?

The ability for a user to to maintain multiple profiles may let people manage their connections more efficiently. This aligns well with the “networked self” theory – the concept that online identity is a complex interplay of multiple selves tailored to different audiences (think about your personal and professional life).By allowing multiple profiles, Meta enables users to customize their content landscapes, effectively turning Facebook into a multi-layered information environment. This could serve as a catalyst for higher engagement rates and time spent on the platform, metrics that are vital for Facebook’s sustainability.This feature gives users a level of agency and freedom in deciding how they wish to engage with different audiences. In doing so, Meta recognizes that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to social networking is outdated and seeks to adapt to modern user behavior and expectations.Multiple profiles will allow users to engage more deeply with niche communities without the noise from other parts of their life. This can lead to stronger bonds within those communities and a more robust exchange of ideas (my bass playing audience is not the same as my ThinkersOne audience).From a behavioral standpoint, having multiple profiles could encourage users to invest more in the platform, following the “endowment effect,” where people value something more if they have a sense of ownership or investment in it.While the feature does come with certain limitations (such as the inability to use Messenger, Dating, Marketplace, etc., from extra profiles), these limitations also serve as safeguards against potential misuse. This addresses some ethical concerns regarding identity misrepresentation and malicious behavior (which continues to be an issue for Facebook).

The questionable?

With more profiles generating more data, Meta gains further granular insight into individual lives. This furthers the surveillance capitalism model, where user data becomes an increasingly valuable asset, raising ethical concerns about privacy and exploitation.Multiple profiles may deepen existing filter bubbles by allowing users to silo themselves into even more specific niches. This could result in less exposure to diverse perspectives.This sounds like a content moderation nightmare at scale. Multiple profiles for each user could make content moderation exponentially harder (and it’s already hard to get right).More profiles could mean more avenues for targeted ads, potentially worsening the commercial exploitation of users (if that’s a concern of yours).

Do you want Facebook accounts to be able to create multiple profiles?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Facebook’s Split Personality – The Case For (And Against?) Fake Profiles

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out

The Rise, Fall, And Inevitable Resurrection of NFTs

As crazy as this may sound, I still believe in the opportunity of NFTs.

As a reminder, NFT = Non Fungible Token.
Simpler = It’s the ability to create scarcity and provenance for a digital file/asset by attaching some unique code to it (we saw the explosion of NFT popularity hit digital art first).
Remember Bored Apes Yacht Club?
What about Beeple? He sold a piece of digital art, The First 5000 Days (which was a collage of over 5000 pieces of his art). It sold for close to $70 million at Christie’s Auction in March of 2020.
Back in August 2021, $2.8 billion was the monthly trading volume for NFTs.

It was a bull run… that has now crashed. Hard.

According to a new report by dappGambl that reviewed data from NFT Scan and CoinMarketCap, 69,795 out of 73,257 NFT collections have a market cap of $0 Eth, leaving 95% of those holding NFT collections – or 23 million people – with worthless investments.

It’s a good reminder for speculators, collectors and appreciators: It’s not how much you paid for something, it’s how much the next person is willing to pay for it that defines the value.

It’s not just a collapse of a new tech market.
It’s not really about the technology.
It’s about the people.
It’s about greed, pump and dumps, ponzi schemes, hypesters, and more.

This doesn’t mean it’s all things related to NFTs are nefarious.

This does mean that places like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stepped in and started dealing with it.
There are now many examples, like Los Angeles-based Impact Theory being charged by the SEC that they conducted an illegal offering in which it sold NFTs worth $30 million in 2021.
There are other examples.

What happened to the NFT market?

What are the opportunities for NFTs?
Can NFTs survive this disastrous collapse and regain credibility?
I think it can… listen in to find out why…

What is Tech Tuesday?

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM and Jack 103) on the air at 95.9 Star FM to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture.
We call it Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Once the segment goes live on 95.9 Star FM, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage.

Mitch Joel · The Rise, Fall, And Inevitable Resurrection of NFTs

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out