Pivot
Bluesky's Moment, Crony Capitalism, and Guest Julie Scelfo of MAMA
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Bluesky's rapid user growth illustrates the potential for competition to enhance innovation and user safety in social media.
- Major films like 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' provide critical commentary on themes such as autocracy and personal freedom, making them relevant in today's political climate.
- Legislative efforts, especially the Kids Online Safety Act, reflect a growing movement among parents and advocates for greater accountability and safety for children online.
- The discussion regarding Trump's political and economic strategies raises concerns about crony capitalism and the implications of his appointees on public policy.
Summary
The Explosion of Bluesky
Kara and Scott discuss Bluesky, noting its substantial growth from 13 million to over 23 million users within a short period. The competition between Bluesky and Threads is highlighted, with the premise that competition fosters innovation and safety in social media platforms. Kara expresses hope that Bluesky’s trajectory will lead to better safety regulations as it thrives.
The Impact of Movies like Gladiator and Wicked
In the wake of successful box office launches for 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator', the discussion transitions to how films reflect societal values and address significant themes such as autocracy. These movies, although produced years apart from their original stories, resonate with audiences in light of current geopolitical contexts and the value of personal freedom.
The State of Legislation Around Children's Online Safety
Julie Skelfo joins as a guest to discuss her initiative, Mothers Against Media Addiction. She highlights ongoing legislative efforts such as the Kids Online Safety Act (Kosa), advocating for accountability and transparency to safeguard children online. Julie stresses the need for duty of care from tech companies to protect children, advocating for real change to combat rising mental health issues linked to social media use.
Trump’s Economic Strategies Indicate Crony Capitalism
Kara and Scott delve into President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, suggesting a return to crony capitalism and examining the implications of politically motivated nominations. The discussion underscores concerns about how these appointments may influence public policy, particularly regarding the economy.
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Show notes
Kara and Scott discuss the "Glicked" effect on the box office, and Amazon's new $4 billion investment in Anthropic. Then, Elon Musk and Vivek Rameswamy bring their Silicon Valley buddies into the Department of Government Efficiency, while President-elect Donald Trump gets Wall Street's approval with his Treasury Secretary pick. Plus, Bluesky continues to surge, and Meta appears to be feeling the heat. Our Friend of Pivot is Julie Scelfo, the founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction or MAMA. Julie explains why she wants transparency, accountability, and legislation to protect kids online.
Find MAMA at joinmama.org.
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Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot.
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