•Creator Matt D’Avella speaks to Jack Conte, co-founder and CEO of Patreon, to find out how we got here
•Web 2.0 changed how people use the internet. Before that the internet was largely read only but with the introduction of YouTube and sites like MySpace, for the first time people could upload and share their own content. From there, we got the ability to “follow” which meant for the first time people could control everything they saw and create what felt like their own little corner of the Internet.
•Once platforms like Facebook went public, they had to figure out how to generate profit for shareholders and that was done by running ads on the platform. As platforms grew, so did the amount of ads. Facebook built a machine that turned attention into revenue.
•Infinite scroll was designed as a way to keep users engaged for longer, versus older designs which separated content into pages. The creator of infinite scroll, Aza Raskin, says he regrets making it
•TikTok’s innovation of the “For You” page, where they show you content they think you will like, influenced other platforms, now giving us endless “suggested content” posts.
•The problem with social media algorithms is that they are built to keep you watching and people will stare at something outrages or upsetting much longer than they will look at other content. This is why ragebait content ends up dominating feeds.
•”What was once pitched as a town square now feels more like reality TV on crack.”
•Meta even admitted that in 2025, only 7% of time spent on instagram is spent viewing content from friends.
•While user numbers are still high, sentiment towards Instagram and TikTok is becoming more negative
•As sentiment changes, social media detoxes are becoming more popular, people are opting for “dumb” phones, and artists are asking fans to put their phones away. Are we finally seeking genuine connection again?
Source
ONTD, do you enjoy using social media?
