There were a lot of problems with Twitter even when it was at its most popular, but it also introduced a new kind of live experience for many. Its real-time nature and huge audience of nerds from different communities turned live events, from a World Cup to E3, into a feed of commentary, jokes, and highlights that served as a perfect second-screen experience. It turned solitary experiences into something more communal and was something that had become so ingrained that I didn’t think about it much until it was gone. That happened around 2023, when Twitter, now X, became so toxic that many users, myself included, decided to jump ship.

In a lot of ways, including personal ones, that was a good thing. I certainly could do with one less app trying to suck up all of my attention. But Twitter did serve some valuable functions, both as a news source and as a community-building experience. And the exodus of users has fractured things such that there’s really no service that does what Twitter did at its peak. Some of the sports community remains on X, but the platform keeps getting worse. In theory, Threads is a viable alternative, with its seemingly huge user base boosted by integration with Instagram. But it never really feels alive, particularly in the moment, due largely to its algorithmic feed that keeps you from seeing the latest thing in favor of whatever thing Threads wants to show you.

But my feed has largely been a ghost town when it comes to large-scale sports. And it’s not like there hasn’t been the opportunity: In recent weeks, there’s been finals for the NBA, Stanley Cup, and Champions League. There was some noise last night when OG Anunoby scored a miraculous game winner for the Knicks, but outside of that and some gags about how tall Victor Wembanyama is, these events haven’t made much of a dent in my feed.

All that said, the vibes have been pretty terrible in the lead-up to most recent World Cup tournaments, dating back to Russia in 2018, and there was still plenty of excitement come game days. One thrilling match can overshadow a lot of bad. Being a modern sports fan involves some level of cognitive dissonance; I love the game itself, and the way it brings together a global community, but am loath to support most of the institutions that benefit from events like the World Cup. It’s an uneasy balance, where I’m cognizant of just how terrible FIFA is, but will still be watching when Canada takes the field.

I also know I’m not alone in that. The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, one that only happens every four years, ensuring hype is at a fever pitch by the time the tournament starts. The 2026 edition is filled with compelling storylines — it’s the last dance for legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the first shot at glory for the likes of Lamine Yamal — so plenty of people will be tuning in, especially with an expanded lineup of teams. The bad vibes aren’t enough to explain the relative silence.

Maybe the real answer is that Twitter circa 2018 was a flash in the pan, a kind of singular experience that won’t ever be replicated, particularly as the internet becomes more fractured and destabilized. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. But as someone who spent years posting after seeing a highlight-reel goal as a reflex, I can’t help but miss it — watching the opening World Cup matches just won’t be the same.