Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
From 2009 to 2016, I worked in politics and saw a variety of my friends cancelled - careers completely destroyed because of one post. The experience gave me PTSD from social media for multiple years. A story or defeat and rebirth 馃憞 Accompanying listening track: https://open.spotify.com/track/59QNyVtGhYoDnpO6T1e4yR?si=905c1b85bde5497f
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
Sometime in 2014ish, a close friend and colleague posted a post on twitter that could be seen as disparaging the Roma people in their home country. The tweet was not cool, but they were venting the frustrations of their grandparents.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
A high profile formal politician picked up the tweet, and proceeded to dunk all over my colleague, it was picked up by some bona fide news media, as our respective positions within the party were high enough for it to be deemed as news. A shit storm commenced.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
Days later, the party brass told us (the executive committee I was a part of) that this person had to go.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
I had to inform my friend that they needed to tender their resignation. She was devastated and felt betrayed. "It was one silly tweet, I'm really sorry, does this have to come to this" I was speechless. I felt horrible. I was effectively ending this person's career in politics... over a tweet.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
Indeed, my friend left politics. Never to come back. She is thriving now, which is great...but this left a lasting impression on me, as I really cared about my career.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
Every tweet or post I wanted to make was viewed in the light of "is this cancellable?" In reality, any tweet with any edge or insightfulness could be viewed as such. So I started tweeting boring, banal ass BS. No soul, no authenticity. It was not me.
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Toufic Adlouni
@tadlouni
Trump became president in 2016, and I went down an alt-right rabbit hole trying to ensure that I need not suffer from a liberal media bubble. It was a real cesspool, and that was the final straw. I don't need this. I quit social media.
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