The Future of Social Media

As people unfriend, what comes next?

Earlier this year we read about Facebook losing users for the first time in its 18-year history. Most chalked that up to a Facebook problem. But this is the beginning of a shift into changes with how social media is consumed, viewed and used.

Many find themselves asking what good does social media provide anymore? It used to be a way to keep in touch with friends and to see photos of what’s happening in people’s lives. Families could stay in touch and see photos of their kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and so on.

Now it’s used as a way to fuel anger and divisiveness. People complain about it, but they still log-in. It’s like an addiction. Then they celebrate and love to tell others when they finally get off. The type of excitement that used to follow when someone quit smoking.

When we log into social media now, what are you logging in to see? It’s nothing anyone looks forward to. That ship sailed many years ago.

Does it improve your productivity? No. Improve your mood? No. Improve your relationships with family and friends? No. Probably the opposite!

So what’s it filling other than FOMO?

The tables have turned to making social media a running digital billboard filling our screens trying to sell this or advertise this story that you could care less about. Every couple stories now you see an ad.

Commercials and ads eventually infect everything. It happened to cable TV. The result? Streaming was born.

During election season people avoid TV commercials. Every commercial it seems is political ads. Now that has blanketed the social media sites.

Do you notice the trend? Social media is following the same path that cable TV took. They take advantage of its users and operate as if they have no other options.

Throughout history, innovation and technology continues to improve. Just as phones did, as television did and as Myspace did.

The current form of social media will change and be replaced by something better.It may already be out there, or it’s being built. Everyone is ready for a new alternative to today’s social media.

Younger people are connecting through gaming (Twitch, Fortnite and Roblox) and platforms like discord.

VSCO, which has a hidden follower count that only you know the number. Putting the focus on genuine content and creativity.

BeReal, which encourages people to post an unedited photo of themselves once per day to their friends. It takes a photo on both sides of the camera within a certain time frame. It encourages people to be themselves without over-thinking and editing photos.

Nextdoor, which puts you in touch with your neighbors based off your address. Connecting with other users, local business, non for profits and so on.

The personal touch of a news feed has vanished. People crave the relationships and connections. Just not all that comes with it today on social media.

What used to be filled with pictures of family and friends is now stuffed with ads and posts that these platforms want to go viral from decisions made by their algorithms.

The social media game has become exhausting. The product has been convoluted and it’s turned from something people couldn’t live without or stay off of, to a place more are avoiding instead of joining.

The unfriending of the sites will continue. This form of social media that’s operating is not sustainable.

A new social media will be developed that will make this current form extinct. The all important and almighty followers count will dicipate. Removing the popularity contest and how many followers are real or bought won’t matter. Everyone will welcome the change. It will be a benefit for all of society.

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