Taylor Lorenz’s Power User The case against logging off
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May 29, 2025 Aidan Walker, a meme researcher and author of "How to Do Things With Memes," challenges the narrative that logging off social media is the solution to its ills. He argues that the internet, despite its flaws, is a vital arena for collective empowerment and activism. Discussing the role of platforms like TikTok in shaping social movements like Black Lives Matter, Walker emphasizes the need for grassroots engagement. He warns that those in power prefer a disconnected public, and advocates for active participation in digital spaces to drive meaningful change.
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Internet Empowers Collective Power
- The internet is one of the only spaces where everyday people can assemble and exert collective power.
- Powers that be want the public disengaged offline to maintain easier control.
Users Hold Internet Power
- The internet is the most important domain where power is shifting today.
- Users are not just consumers but producers shaping the online world.
Use Platforms Strategically
- Use social platforms strategically despite corporate control; don't surrender them to owners.
- Platforms are communities maintained by users, who hold real influence over these spaces.