Bye Bye Birdie
Losing Library Twitter and What Comes NeXt
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.29173/pathfinder117Mots-clés :
digital communities, social media, platforms, digital preservation, resource sharing, library communications, Twitter, enshittificationRésumé
This case study examines the viability of digital social platforms for library workers to connect as individuals and professionals. Inspired by the recent decline of Library Twitter, the once de-facto site of conversation due to its popularity and adoption among information institutions, we seek to address the ramifications of cultural and infrastructural changes brought on by the takeover of Elon Musk. Rebranding the site to X, the “everything website”, the tech billionaire has drastically changed site affordances, while pushing users away through predatory monetization, yet failing to address rising dis and misinformation.
Through a combined methodology of literature review, platform analysis, and community discussion, and adapted from a poster presentation by the authors on the same topic, this paper explores the information behaviour and migration trends of Library Twitter users, offers an assessment of alternative platforms, and presents key considerations for the future of library community networks. Anxieties about where to go next and the increasing evidence that all platforms are susceptible to “enshittification” to create a valid sense of urgency, however, we offer this moment as a rare opportunity to build new digital spaces with care and intention.
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© Gabrielle Crowley, An Li Tsang 2025
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