For many years, Twitter served as a vital hub for professional networking, knowledge sharing, and real-time discussion across various sectors, including healthcare. The platform’s microblogging format facilitated rapid dissemination of information, engagement with experts, and the formation of niche communities. The hospice and palliative care community, in particular, had cultivated a robust presence on Twitter, leveraging it for conference updates, research dissemination, and peer support. Christian Sinclair, MD, FAAHPM, editor-in-chief of Pallimed, a prominent online resource for the HAPC community, noted this shift in a recent commentary. Sinclair, who previously advocated for Twitter’s utility in the field, has now publicly disavowed the platform, even deleting his personal account. This personal decision reflects a broader sentiment within the community that Twitter, under its current management and operational changes, has become less conducive to the type of focused, professional interaction it once facilitated.<\/p>\n
The reasons cited for Twitter’s decline are multifaceted and have been widely reported. These include changes in content moderation policies, perceived increases in misinformation and toxicity, algorithmic shifts that prioritize engagement over relevance, and a significant influx of advertising. For professionals in fields that require careful communication and a supportive network, these changes have rendered the platform less appealing. Sinclair’s assertion that "it is no longer a good site for multiple reasons" resonates with many who have experienced similar disillusionment. His personal anecdote, "if I<\/em> deleted Twitter and I am OK, you can too," serves as an invitation for others to consider similar transitions.<\/p>\n Bluesky: A Promising New Frontier for HAPC Professionals<\/strong><\/p>\n Bluesky, a decentralized social networking protocol that launched its public beta in late 2023, has quickly garnered attention as a potential successor to Twitter for communities seeking a more focused and less commercialized online experience. Developed by Jack Dorsey’s Bluesky Social, the platform is built on an open protocol, aiming to offer greater user control and interoperability. Sinclair highlights Bluesky’s current attributes as key draws for the HAPC community: "It is fun, light, collegial. Like everyone is discovering a nice place to be online together. Perfect for tumultuous times like these."<\/p>\n The migration of HAPC professionals to Bluesky is not merely anecdotal. Sinclair himself has been an active user for approximately 18 months, having received an invite from Holly Yang. While the HAPC presence on Bluesky grew slowly initially, a significant surge in both the quantity and quality of users and content was observed recently. This influx is not confined to HAPC; the platform has seen a broader migration of medical professionals, academics, journalists, entertainers, and various organizations from Twitter. This indicates a more widespread dissatisfaction with existing platforms and a collective search for alternatives that foster meaningful connections.<\/p>\n Bluesky’s appeal lies in several key features that directly address the shortcomings of its predecessors. The absence of advertisements "at this time" is a significant draw, creating a cleaner and less intrusive user experience. The platform’s design is described as "fun, light, and collegial," fostering a sense of shared discovery and community building. This atmosphere is particularly valuable in a field like HAPC, which often deals with sensitive and emotionally charged topics, requiring a supportive and respectful environment for discussion.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Bluesky offers features designed to enhance user control and content discovery. The platform’s tools are reportedly effective in helping users find relevant content and protect themselves from harassment or negativity. This is a crucial aspect for professionals who may wish to engage in public discourse without being subjected to the overwhelming noise and toxicity often present on other platforms. The ability to curate one’s feed and engage in focused discussions without constant commercial interruption is a significant departure from the current trajectory of many mainstream social media sites.<\/p>\n Community Building and Resource Development on Bluesky<\/strong><\/p>\n A cornerstone of Bluesky’s growing appeal is its emphasis on community-driven organization and resource sharing. Sinclair has actively contributed to this by creating a "How to Bluesky" guide, which is publicly accessible and pinned to his profile. This initiative aims to facilitate onboarding for new users, particularly those unfamiliar with the platform’s nuances. The guide provides essential information for navigating Bluesky and understanding its functionalities.<\/p>\n Complementing these guides are "starter packs," a feature that allows users to curate lists of accounts within specific interest areas. This is particularly beneficial for newcomers seeking to connect with established communities. Sinclair has developed a "Hospice and Palliative Care People starter pack" that features over 120 individuals dedicated to palliative care. This initiative exemplifies how the community is actively working to build its presence and facilitate connections on the new platform. The existence of multiple, community-created starter packs, such as one compiled by Catherine Walshe, editor of Palliative Medicine, further underscores the collaborative effort to make Bluesky a valuable resource for HAPC professionals. These diverse starter packs offer users a broader spectrum of individuals and organizations to follow, ensuring comprehensive engagement with the field.<\/p>\n Reinvigorating Professional Discourse and Engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n To further foster community engagement, Sinclair plans to host a recurring #hapc chat (also known as #hpm chat or formerly Tweetchat) on Wednesday nights at 6 PM PT \/ 9 PM ET. This initiative is designed to provide a dedicated forum for discussions, akin to the popular Twitter chats that were once a staple for many professional communities. The introduction of these scheduled chats is intended to incentivize further adoption of Bluesky within the HAPC sector and to provide a consistent platform for ongoing dialogue and professional development.<\/p>\n Sinclair also announced that he will be using Bluesky to share updates regarding the Annual Assembly #HAPC25 in Denver next year. This strategic use of the platform for event promotion and information dissemination highlights its potential as a central communication channel for professional organizations. The prospect of engaging with such updates on a platform that offers a more focused and less distracting environment may encourage greater participation and interest in industry events.<\/p>\n The return of Pallimed’s content and engagement on Bluesky also signifies a renewed commitment to providing valuable resources to the HAPC community. For those who may have drifted away from online professional engagement due to the perceived decline of platforms like Twitter, the emergence of Bluesky, coupled with the continued efforts of resources like Pallimed, offers a compelling reason to re-engage with the digital professional sphere. The platform’s potential to foster the kind of "community bonding" reminiscent of early social media days, but with a more mature and focused approach, positions it as a significant development for professional online interaction.<\/p>\n Broader Implications and the Future of Digital Professionalism<\/strong><\/p>\n The migration of the hospice and palliative care community to Bluesky is emblematic of a broader trend. As established social media giants face increasing scrutiny over their business models, content moderation, and impact on user well-being, niche communities are actively seeking alternatives that better align with their values and professional needs. Platforms like Bluesky, with their emphasis on decentralization, user control, and a less commercialized environment, offer a glimpse into a potential future for digital professionalism.<\/p>\n The success of Bluesky in attracting and retaining professional communities will depend on its ability to scale while maintaining its core principles. The platform’s open protocol architecture suggests a commitment to user agency and the potential for greater innovation through third-party development. However, challenges remain, including user acquisition in a crowded social media market and the ongoing development of robust content moderation tools to ensure a safe and productive environment.<\/p>\n For the HAPC field specifically, the establishment of a strong presence on Bluesky could lead to several positive outcomes. It may foster greater collaboration among researchers and clinicians, accelerate the dissemination of best practices, and provide a more effective channel for advocacy and public education. The ability to connect with peers in a supportive online environment is invaluable, especially in a field that often faces burnout and emotional challenges.<\/p>\n The transition from Twitter to Bluesky, while seemingly a minor shift in the digital landscape, represents a significant moment for professional communities. It underscores the evolving demands of users who seek not just connectivity, but also meaningful engagement, intellectual stimulation, and a sense of belonging. As more professionals discover the advantages of platforms like Bluesky, the future of online professional discourse may be reshaped, prioritizing quality of interaction over sheer volume of users and commercial interests. The hospice and palliative care community’s proactive embrace of this new frontier serves as a compelling case study for other professional groups navigating the ever-changing digital terrain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The digital landscape for professional communities, particularly within the sensitive and specialized field of hospice and palliative medicine (HAPC), is in constant flux. Following a period of significant upheaval and perceived decline in the utility of established social media platforms, a growing number of professionals are migrating to newer, text-based microblogging services. One such platform, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[98,20,94,67,160,93,38,66,325,92,105,91,1571,95,1572],"newstopic":[],"class_list":["post-5850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-palliative-hospice-care","tag-bluesky","tag-care","tag-comfort-care","tag-community","tag-digital","tag-end-of-life","tag-finds","tag-home","tag-hospice","tag-hospice-care","tag-palliative","tag-palliative-care","tag-relevance","tag-twitter","tag-wanes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5850"},{"taxonomy":"newstopic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homecares.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fnewstopic&post=5850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Twitter](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEijRieS2ebp6ym5cHUEkJnlY2zwgoyDiM0AnexW4x4bRdaJ1C2lSwSeEyTX9D0oC6tpNVuithLUgypqHZ_663YbJDHd8BJ7P9BWKEvNqXEWgaO4MiKPNgODQUy4D-7M_NWvtMnzGiEmg6Rw30BDzyK8GZCuXJGTXxsRBQfnyETMXjj27a8Gmbjo0g\/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu\/bafkreiffwbceyz723v6nukqtasixpdokahcm35su3fgs6vtlh6niog2pby.jpg\")
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