The real trap is viewing things strictly in terms of centralized growth/degrowth. It views platforms as atomized and promotes the idea that they’re in competition. The reality of social networks irl is that many connections are redundant via mutual friends, interests, stomping grounds, etc. And activist networks do tend to form ‘cliques’, but that itself is a word that implies competition and division. But when these networks split, individuals in them will still retain their other mutual connections with the other side of the split. So your network hasn’t shrunk by half. It’s gained a second center.

Taking the situation and looking at it through a non-hierarchical lens makes that situation a lot less catastrophic. This sort of change can and should be pursued by the left online. I have people that, despite having deleted their Hexbear accounts and us not talking in over a year, I have several ways I could contact. If I ever join a project that their skills would be useful for, they’re not just some anonymous person I used to talk to. This kind of connection is the one that social infrastructure is built on. And it’s the kind that social media discourages because it limits their ability to unilaterally direct your attention where it’s profitable