I interviewed Joseph Nye just a year ago to talk about “tech power” vs soft power. He encouraged me to continued my research around public and digital diplomacy. RIP professor!

Dr Wendy Osefo @wendyosefo.bsky.social was fantastic at the Italian Embassy earlier this month, talking about social media, authenticity, and the creator economy.

DeepSeek is top 2 and trending, Bluesky is 4th… but what is RealShort?

Just got a new alert in the TikTok app: Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.

The TikTok popup has changed again, now not referencing Trump anymore. 3 popup versions so far since last night, signaling perhaps crisis communications mode

It’s not just TikTok, the ban also includes CapCut, Lemon8, and all Bytedance products.

TikTok alert

Biden or Trump? open.substack.com/pub/wearedig...

Who is going to save TikTok?

39% of young adults in the US rely on TikTok for news. A ban would silence Gen Z and erase a vital space for diverse voices. Greater support for media from TikTok could instead unlock its full potential. Read my latest column for @journalismnews.bsky.social www.journalism.co.uk/news/how-the...

While the Biden administration is trying to ban TikTok over concerns about “foreign influence operations,” the White House is working behind the scenes to use TikTok for its own foreign influence activities, and allowing some government employees to still use the app

Steve Bannon v Elon Musk…

What are you going to do on Inauguration Day? Anybody?

Instagram’s Adam Mosseri trying to explain political content on Meta after Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement last week…

Bluesky is so much better than Twitter. That's the post.

What do you think about the future of TikTok in the US? So far 1400 people have answered this Instagram poll here 👇

A lot to unpack about Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement. All you need is here, including reactions from @aaronparnas.bsky.social @chrismessina.me @parkermolloy.com @taylorlorenz.bsky.social @katieharbath.bsky.social @jasmineaenberg.bsky.social @jeffjarvis.bsky.social @wongmjane.macaw.social.ap.brid.gy

Just an average day in Washington DC…

Let it snow…. In Washington DC

Reactions to this @civicscience.bsky.social study? 👉 civicscience.com/infographic-...

Bluesky and Threads showed us very different visions for a post-X future The two text-based platforms share some of the same goals, but almost none of the same tactics for getting there.

In a few months when people wonder how Elon Musk developed such an outsize influence over British politics, it’ll be worth noting the contribution of push notifications like this from the national broadcaster.

Saw this on LinkedIn…

🇮🇹🇺🇸

Legacy media is dying.

Dropping new Substack Monday morning about Trump’s incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and her strategy to include podcasters, influencers, and TikTokers in the press briefing… Subscribe now: wearedigitaldiplomacy.substack.com

Is she really who I think she is? In Threads?

Snowing at the office. First snow in Washington DC!

TikTok + 𝕏 ? Well, @kyurieff.bsky.social at @theinformation.bsky.social predicts Elon Musk will emerge as a suitor and try to buy the company, potentially merging it with his social network X. www.theinformation.com/articles/pre...

new season of the apprentice just dropped www.theverge.com/2024/12/27/2...

US government claiming there's no First Amendment issue at all in banning TikTok is, well, a choice. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...

well at least all the lawyers got three years of billable hours www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/u...

🎄 … ‘nough said :)

Instagram is NOT a TikTok substitute Youtube Shorts is NOT a TikTok substitute X is NOT a TikTok substitute Threads is NOT a TikTok substitute LinkedIn is NOT a TikTok substitute Reddit is NOT a TikTok substitute Facebook is NOT a TikTok substitute Bluesky is NOT a TikTok substitute

Just started a starter pack with world leaders on Bluesky… Any suggestions to add more leaders to this list?

Best way to cheers to a Christmas holiday and a happy new year… with the Bidens at the White House! Thank you POTUS and FLOTUS! And to the entire White House Digital Strategy Team!

Prediction time… Will TikTok be banned in the US?

TikTok ban in the US? "TikTok has already announced it plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, conveniently during an administration change that’s seen as more favorable for the platform," writes Reed Albergotti in @semafor.com

✅ @pewresearch.org: About 1-in-5 Americans say they regularly get news from influencers on social media. ✅ X’s Linda Yaccarino: “The people are the media now.” ✅ Rachel Karten: “It’s time for legacy media to build a new social media playbook.”

Most things that make Bluesky different from Twitter/X "are underneath the hood."

I do not agree with some of this, but it is worth a read. Forgot that Reagan quote: www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...

Every year, Nieman Lab asks some of the smartest people in journalism to tell us what they think the next year in news will bring. Find the first batch of 2025 predictions here:

✅ Black Friday ✅ Small Business Saturday ❌ __???__ Sunday __???__ ✅ Cyber Monday ✅ Giving Tuesday But what about Sunday? What if we make it into a “Social Media Sunday” with social-media-only deals or free subscriptions? Or there’s already something on Sunday?

Happy 🦃

Celebrating 46 countries on Substack :) Have subscribed yet? 💪 open.substack.com/pub/wearedig...

This whole interview is a wild ride

Social media is in desperate need of innovation. Meta is only letting you have a slice of control over what you see because Bluesky is here building for you.

Mass X-odus: professionals desert Elon Musk’s X Organisations including Balenciaga, North Wales Police and The Guardian have also removed themselves. www.ft.com/content/3051...

👋 Holla if you’re also on Substack

What will happen in marketing, the media, the creator economy in 2025? Substack, Patreon, Hootsuite, Bluesky… Insights from @taylorlorenz.bsky.social @knibbs.bsky.social @mrdavidskilling.bsky.social @nekesamumbi.bsky.social @jackconte.bsky.social @sophiasgaler.bsky.social @erikamarzano.bsky.social