University of Maine

• Most recently the microblogging platform backed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky, saw a surge of sign-ups in the days following Twitter’s rate limit, and Meta launched its microblogging platform Threads on July 5.
• Even very different forms of social media such as TikTok are benefiting from what many see as Twitter’s imminent demise.
• The turmoil at Twitter is causing many of the company’s users to consider leaving the platform.
• Research on previous social media platform migrations shows what might lie ahead for Twitter users who fly the coop.

‘You go first’

• These migrations are in large part driven by network effects, meaning that the value of a new platform depends on who else is there.
• For this reason, the “death” of a platform – whether from a controversy, disliked change or competition – tends to be a slow, gradual process.

It’ll never be the same

• What makes Twitter Twitter isn’t the technology, it’s the particular configuration of interactions that takes place there.
• And there is essentially zero chance that Twitter, as it exists now, could be reconstituted on another platform.
• But as our study implies, migrations always have a cost, and even for smaller communities, some people will get lost along the way.

The ties that bind

• They might be unwilling to completely cut ties all at once, but they might dip their toes into a new platform by sharing the same content on both.
• Ways to import networks from another platform also help to maintain communities.
• In this sense, Threads has an advantage over other Twitter alternatives because users sign up via their Instagram accounts.
• But even if there is a price to pay for leaving a platform, communities can be incredibly resilient.

• Over 150 students from Maine Virtual Academy ( MEVA ), a full-time online public-school academy serving students in grades 7-12 throughout the state, celebrated their graduation virtually.
• Students from MEVA have reported they will attend Universities, Colleges, community colleges in their area, vocational education programs, as well as joining branches of the military.
• Some of the schools our graduates have been accepted to are Central Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College, University of Maine, Eastern Maine Community College, and Kennebec Valley Community College.
• Valedictorian Tegan Hemond, from Minot, will be attending Central Maine Community College and was awarded $14,500 towards her college education from the Worthington Scholarship Foundation .

• The Quell Foundation Appoints a new Executive Director, and a Director of the First Responder Resilience Project
  As the Executive Director of The Quell Foundation, Ms. Meyerl, a highly accomplished mental health professional with extensive experience in counseling and advocacy, will report directly to Founder and CEO Kevin M Lynch and will be responsible for the overall management and leadership of the organization.
• "We are thrilled to welcome Amber to The Quell Foundation team," said Lynch.
• "Her experience, expertise, and passion for mental health advocacy make her the ideal candidate to lead The Quell Foundation into the future.
• "Together, the First Responder Resilience Project and newly merged Survive First, will break the barriers that have stood in the way for far too long."

• The first $1 million-dollar gift will be used to create the John M. Webber Husson University Business Scholarship Fund.
• This fund will provide financial support to deserving Husson University College of Business students, with a preference given to those majoring in accounting or finance.
• Dr. Marie Hansen, dean of the College of Business at Husson University shares John Webber’s passion for education.
• Education helps students think critically and consider issues from multiple perspectives.”
  “That’s why the John M. Webber Husson University Business Scholarship Fund is so important,” continued Hansen.