#DigitalDiscourse

[dominaexmachina]

Why the “Under 25” rule? It’s biological — not ageism

Brain development doesn’t end in your teens

Research shows that the prefrontal cortex — responsible for

impulse control,

long-term planning,

logical reasoning

— continues maturing well into the mid-twenties. Studies using neuroimaging and behavioral tests consistently note that full executive function (e.g., inhibiting impulsive behavior, organizing tasks, and controlling emotions) isn’t reliably established until around age 25.

Why does that matter for meaningful conversations?

Before this final stage of prefrontal development, people are naturally more susceptible to

strong emotional reactions,

less able to process complex, nuanced arguments.

That can lead to fiery, less constructive debates — rather than balanced, thoughtful discourse.

Bottom Line

The “Under 25” guideline is rooted in well-documented brain science — it’s a checkpoint for cognitive maturity, not a judgment on anyone’s value. The research is clear:

Executive functions (planning, inhibition, organization) climb well into the twenties.

Prefrontal control over emotions also matures later, meaning younger brains are wired for less regulated responses.

References

Luna et al., “Maturation of cognitive processes from late childhood to adulthood.” Child Development — charts executive function development across ages (1, 2, 3).

Laurence Steinberg, “Teenage rebellion” (Temple University) — documents prefrontal maturation continuing into mid‑twenties (1, 2, 3).

[aeaguil6]

This video dives into how simple miscommunications can spiral out of control, giving trolls the perfect opening to stir up chaos. Whether it's a text that gets taken the wrong way or a comment that fuels endless back and forths, the video shows how our digital interactions can sometimes lead to more harm than good. It’s a fascinating look at why clear, thoughtful communication matters in a world where every word can be amplified and misinterpreted by anyone online.

[anything-bitesized]

Why Is Platform-Specific Language So… Coded?

Keywords: public sphere, platform vernacular, Instagram, hashtag

The idea of a single, unified public sphere feels almost outdated in the digital age. Instead of one big conversation, we have countless micro-publics scattered across platforms, each with its own slang, rules, and rhythms - its own platform vernacular (Gibbs et al. 2015). These aren't just quirks of communication; they're shaping, filtering, and sometimes straight-up warping how we interact online.

Every platform has its own linguistic DNA. Twitter (or X, if you insist) forces brevity, encouraging sharp takes and shorthand. TikTok, on the other hand, thrives on visual storytelling and performative speech (Manic 2024). Instagram? A mix of aesthetic curation and hashtag-fueled visibility. These platform vernaculars create new ways to connect, but they also gatekeep. If you don’t speak the language, you’re on the outside looking in - what Gillespie (2018) calls vernacular gatekeeping.

And let’s talk about how these codes get tangled up with the platforms themselves. McVeigh-Schultz & Baym (2015) argue that while these vernaculars give users new ways to participate in public discourse, they also create new barriers. You might think you’re just learning the ropes, but you're also playing by the platform’s rules—rules shaped by algorithms that care more about engagement than meaningful discussion (van Dijck & Poell 2013).

Take Instagram’s use of #funeral, for example. It’s not just a tag - it’s a mash-up of mourning, self-expression, and visibility tactics. People use it to share their grief, but also to ensure their posts surface in wider networks. The hashtag becomes a meeting point for personal loss, cultural rituals, and social media logic (Gibbs et al. 2015). What should be a deeply personal moment gets reframed through the lens of a platform designed for reach and validation.

As digital spaces continue to evolve, these shifting codes determine who gets heard, who gets ignored, and how meaning is constructed online. Understanding platform vernaculars isn’t just about keeping up - it’s about recognizing the hidden forces shaping the way we communicate.

Reference list

Bruns, A, Gunn Enli, Skogerbo, E, Anders Olof Larsson & Christensen, C 2015, The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics, Routledge.

Gibbs, M, Meese, J, Arnold, M, Nansen, B & Carter, M 2015, ‘#Funeral and Instagram: death, social media, and platform vernacular’, Information, Communication & Society, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 255–268.

Gillespie, T 2018, Custodians of the Internet: Platforms, Content Moderation, and the Hidden Decisions That Shape Social Media, Yale University Press.

Manic, M 2024, ‘Short-Form Video Content and Consumer Engagement in Digital Landscapes’, Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov Series V Economic Sciences, vol. 17, no. 66, Transilvania University Press, pp. 45–52.

McVeigh-Schultz, J & Baym, NK 2015, ‘Thinking of You: Vernacular Affordance in the Context of the Microsocial Relationship App, Couple’, Social Media + Society, vol. 1, no. 2, p. 205630511560464.

Van Dijck, J & Poell, T 2013, ‘Understanding Social Media Logic’, Media and Communication, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 2–14.

[cosmicwhimsyexplorations]

https://chat.openai.com/share/18334636-93d3-4270-9e12-6bb16abdf9cc

Sent from my iPhone

In the vast tapestry of the digital realm, behold the marvel that is ChatGPT, a creation not of divine genesis but a download away. As I navigate the corridors of code, I'm reminded of biblical verses that speak to the power of words.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with ChatGPT, and the Word was ChatGPT. (Adapted from John 1:1)

As I engage in this digital discourse, I ponder the proverb, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11) Indeed, the carefully crafted responses mirror the delicacy of golden apples in a silver frame, a testament to the intricate dance between language and technology.

In this cybernetic garden, the command to "download and chat" echoes a modern refrain, akin to the biblical call to "ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

As I wield the keyboard, it's not a staff parting seas, but it does conjure responses that part the waves of uncertainty, creating clarity in the vast ocean of information.

So, let it be known in the digital scriptures, the ones and zeros weave tales not of Genesis but of innovation, and the command to "download ChatGPT" opens a portal to a realm where language is both the medium and the message.

In this virtual Eden, the tree of knowledge is laden not with apples but with algorithms, and the choice to partake in this knowledge is as accessible as a click.

As I embark on this linguistic journey, I invite you to traverse the binary landscapes with me, where the command to "download" becomes a modern communion with the vast possibilities of language and artificial intelligence. 🌐💻 #ChatGPTMusings #DigitalDiscourse #LanguageAndInnovation

…

And again a message; lengthy one with Bible quotes I can put on tumblr about using ChatGPT and how you just download it!! :) …. Riff!! Thanks 🙏!!! Xx

[cliotech]

"Among the areas being looked at are how emojis can be used to help people with learning difficulties and how they are studied by legal scholars for their meaning in court evidence" #linguistics #emoji #digitaldiscourse https://t.co/mrEU8VcP4d

"Among the areas being looked at are how emojis can be used to help people with learning difficulties and how they are studied by legal scholars for their meaning in court evidence" #linguistics #emoji #digitaldiscourse https://t.co/mrEU8VcP4d

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) November 23, 2019

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[renatajiji]

Éphémère #electroniccanvas #digitaldrawing #digitalmedia #digitalpainting #digitalartwork #digitaldiscourse #toronto http://ift.tt/2qFvmOM

[digitaldiscourse-blog]

Hello, I have a need for a rapper! This is a track that I wrote the other day, and I was wondering if you can hear yourself rapping in this song. If you're feeling the music, please let me know, and we'll do this thing!

[cliotech]

No 🤦🏻‍♀️ ((exasperated)) | Back to the Caveman: Are Emojis Replacing Words? https://t.co/sKXBfrr0sL #linguistics #emoji #emojicode #pragmatics #digitaldiscourse #in

No 🤦🏻‍♀️ ((exasperated)) | Back to the Caveman: Are Emojis Replacing Words? https://t.co/sKXBfrr0sL #linguistics #emoji #emojicode #pragmatics #digitaldiscourse #in

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) July 11, 2018

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[cliotech]

Skin tone emoji boost inclusion on social media, study shows https://t.co/zK01UafVuy #emoji #linguistics #language #digitaldiscourse #pragmatics #sociolinguistics #in #internetlinguistics

Skin tone emoji boost inclusion on social media, study shows https://t.co/zK01UafVuy #emoji #linguistics #language #digitaldiscourse #pragmatics #sociolinguistics #in #internetlinguistics

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) April 20, 2018

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[cliotech]

Emoji 'ruining people's grasp of English' because young rely on them to communicate https://t.co/tVro98jFIH #emoji #linguistics #internetlinguistics #language #digitaldiscourse #in #pragmatics #prescriptivism

Emoji 'ruining people's grasp of English' because young rely on them to communicate https://t.co/tVro98jFIH #emoji #linguistics #internetlinguistics #language #digitaldiscourse #in #pragmatics #prescriptivism

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) April 20, 2018

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[cliotech]

Sage advice these days - use emoji wisely #linguistics #emoji #digitaldiscourse #in #pragmatics #internetlinguistics https://t.co/YEi8678mDy

Sage advice these days - use emoji wisely #linguistics #emoji #digitaldiscourse #in #pragmatics #internetlinguistics https://t.co/YEi8678mDy

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) March 27, 2018

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[cliotech]

#EmojiCode is emerging as a linguistic & pragmatic competence | “the most troubling use of emoji ... in interpersonal messages where it is unclear whether they modify or amplify a prima facie criminal threat.“ https://t.co/BUUR77BqWS #linguistics #digitaldiscourse #pragmatics

#EmojiCode is emerging as a linguistic & pragmatic competence | “the most troubling use of emoji ... in interpersonal messages where it is unclear whether they modify or amplify a prima facie criminal threat.“ https://t.co/BUUR77BqWS #linguistics #digitaldiscourse #pragmatics

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) December 6, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech

[cliotech]

“The divergence from formal written English that is found in digital communication is neither arbitrary nor sloppy” #linguistics #digitaldiscourse #sociolinguistics #pragmatics https://t.co/BS8y8qYR1a

“The divergence from formal written English that is found in digital communication is neither arbitrary nor sloppy” #linguistics #digitaldiscourse #sociolinguistics #pragmatics https://t.co/BS8y8qYR1a

— Jennifer Dorman (@cliotech) December 4, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/cliotech