Pivoting away from video.

I read this micro essay by a guy called Ewen Bell over on Mastodon the other day:

Videos yell at you. Photos invite you in for a cup of tea and

a biscuit. The minimal presence of video on Mastodon is absolutely wonderful.

When social media moved away from posting snapshots of moments, and

pushed everyone to post video, something very fundamental changed.

Photos are passive. You walk through them at your own pace. You pause to

contemplate an idea, or recall your own experience that connects to the photo.

Video in comparison will consume your attention. Especially edited video. Fast

edits. Loud edits. No time to absorb. It's aggressive and dominating.

It was one of those simple observations that make your head go ‘boing’ because it feels exactly right. Video is compelling or compulsive in a way that still imagery and text isn’t. That’s not necessarily a good thing, unless you’re monetising eyeballs.

Of course, text and still images can be compelling, but it feels like they have to have some inherent worth to be so. Video doesn’t.

I do sometimes post videos here, but I never picked up the Tik Tok bug. I’m sure if I put the app on my phone I’d be just as quickly hooked as everyone else. But I feel no need for another social media addiction.

So a text guy I remain.

Here, have some tea and biscuits. (Cookies for BillH and Jason).