The Twitter exchange - culture swap your social media

The world has had a lot to deal with this year and with restrictions put in place across the globe, more people have taken to the online social platforms to fill the void of regular community interaction that we are now largely unable to enjoy.

As powerful as these platforms are at bringing people together, they also serve to tear communities apart. The echo chambers that tend to form around groups is so much more pronounced on social media than it is in real life, with any hint of dissenting opinion shouted down in an often very aggressive manner - something that would be completely unacceptable in polite society.

And it's not just the typical political opposition topics, there are groups as varied as Harry Potter fan clubs that will wage war against each on twitter about which club is the most dedicated. Rather than celebrating the shared interests, the reach of the internet is generating more and more niche collectives that narrow our exposure to different ideas. The irony of having billions of people to connect with and only opting for thing things we already know.

Obviously there is merit to connecting with likeminded individuals and being part of a club - virtual or otherwise is a staple of social interactions, but perhaps there is a way that people can gain insights to other ways of thinking without too much inconvenience..

One of the most touted ways to broaden one's horizon is travel. but, traveling to lands unknown, to experience cultures completely alien to us and immerse ourselves in the customs of another place is something not everyone is able to enjoy. This has become all the more difficult in the current climate with travel restrictions changing on almost a daily basis. 

So how can we get out of our own echo chambers, experience new countries and gain a fresh perspective on exactly how terrible or oppressed our lives actually are? How about a student exchange program, like the ones some experienced during school. We can substitute the real exchange program with one of our own - a kind of a blackout, but rather than avoiding devices and not checking in on social media, we can simply update the material that we see when we do check in; 

Cleanse

This is the first step, un-follow everyone. Either temporarily from your personal account or create a new one specifically for this exercise. The important thing to remember is that if you are creating an additional account you must only use this.

Clean feed? Free from #GBBO spoilers and commentary on the latest spate of injuries for Liverpool FC? Great, now we can move into the next stage of prep.

Choose

The beauty of this exercise is you get to decide where you go! Brasil? Bali? Birmingham? The world is your oyster! Once you have chosen the location you will be "visiting" it's time to fire up google and get to know the top personalities and lesser known individuals you will be following. 

This research stage might take a little time to ensure you're not getting a bunch of bot accounts, those run by "the office of…" or that guy who only tweets once a year. To get the best out of the experience go for an eclectic mix and include people from industries / professions you are not familiar with. Carnival not interesting to you? Follow account that tweet about the preparations. Football not your thing? Follow Pele. 

It’s also interesting to hear from strangers what they think of events in their own countries. Some of the most enjoyable conversations with strangers abroad I have had involved their take on the current events of their country and the happenings in their town - even local politics. For this again use google to find some hot topics of the day in the country, find a related hashtag and punch these into twitter for a whole host of people who have been compelled to express an opinion about it. Follow some of these people [as long as you validate they appear to be from the country in question]. 

Check in 

Now it's time to enjoy your new echo chamber, one where your own opinions don’t appear as often - or at all and one that is unlikely to serve you up the same topics, stories and perspectives you have been used to. Switching the bake off chat for Favela life and Brexit for the plight of the Amazon Rainforest. While the stories may be familiar, the reporting of them and the perspectives from those living with it certainly wont be.

Pro-tip: if you are following accounts that tweet in a language you can’t read, twitter offers translations at the click of a button. Or maybe it’s time to get Rosetta Stone installed!

Carry on

Spend a week, month, or even longer [depending on how much you use Twitter] - long enough for the holiday experience to kick in. We all have these bubbles we live in and forcing a break from these - even just through social media - might provide insights into a culture you had only a superficial understanding of, maybe break down some misconceptions and at the very least give you a few more answers to the next pub quiz.. Even if it is still virtual.