Thinking again about the state of #AltText in the fediverse. I know that writing proper image description can be a struggle for some, and even folks who do know about the "Alt4Me" hashtag find it difficult to remember to use it.

I wonder if a browser extension that adds it automatically when you upload an image might help?

#accessibility #poll #fediverse

@stefan I've seen the results of automatic alt text using an AI, and I would say the results range from missing the point of the image to flat out wrong.

I think blind people and people on slow Internet connections (like me!) don't deserve to be fed automated disinformation, and honestly I would prefer no alt text at all if accuracy is impossible.

@pencilears @stefan take a look at these.

BeAware :fediverse: (@BeAware@social.beaware.live)

Attached: 1 image I am in this picture and people always wonder how I know every word to hundreds of songs....I've done this my whole life, that's how.😂 #ADHD #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Neurodiverse #Neurodivergence #ADHDmemes #Memes #Meme

BeAware (social.beaware.live)

BeAware :fediverse: (@BeAware@social.beaware.live)

Attached: 1 image This is me every few weeks, with the exception that I keep going back to the same ones because I'm just that broke...🤦‍♂️ #ADHD #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Neurodiverse #Neurodivergence #ADHDmemes #Memes #Meme

BeAware (social.beaware.live)

The alt texts here and most alt texts for images I post, are made with ChatGPT and copied verbatim.

@BeAware @stefan the 2nd one is reasonable because it contextualizes the meme, the first one is not because again, the meme remains without context.

I don't see how putting this through chat got is less trouble than just writing out your own text.

@pencilears @stefan I have ADHD and my brain sometimes cannot put the right words together.

@BeAware @stefan so do I.

@pencilears @stefan everyone is different.

@BeAware @stefan it's just, if alt text is too much effort? don't do it.

You could use the #Alt4Me hashtag and someone else can write it up for you if you still want things accessable, but you're sacrificing too much quality with chatGPT.

@pencilears @stefan nah, I won't be less accessible for the blind folks in my circle, that's asinine.

I did a poll recently for this exact thing and 10/10 people that answered said theyd rather me use AI for alt text than not at all. So that's what I'll continue doing.