What is Social Media Anyway?

Musing About What is Social Media Anyway

Have you ever thought what exactly IS social media? What purported value does it bring to civilization? What’s more, in our fast-paced, instant gratification society, has it changed since its “inception?”

While surfing on the internet (which, I contend, is researching to a degree), I came across this article in The New Yorker covering the FTC (The Federal Trade Commission) monopoly lawsuit against Meta (the parent of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp).

There’s a lot to be taken from the article: The FTC’s antitrust mechanism, the way the FTC views a monopoly, and even the mention of increased AI-generated “content.” Even so, the point I want to discuss here in this Musing is precisely what Metas strategy is in this case – What is Social Media Anyway?

In essence, Meta’s case rests on the shifting definition of what a social media network is. For example, The New Yorker asks: “What, exactly, does a social network do? Is it a website that connects people with one another online, a digital gathering place where we can consume content posted by our friends? That’s certainly what it was in its heyday, in the two-thousands.”

Since that time, however, it has shifted. The proof Meta offered? According to the article, the amount of time spent viewing content created by friends has declined to 17% from 22% on Facebook, and Instagram went from 11% to 7% in just two years. Inquiring minds wonder: What’s happened during that time?

For my part, I believe social media platforms (the definition of which is broader than the FTC has) have sought to push as much content as possible, by friends or not. Given that algorithms are created for a purpose, the content your “friends” create is lost in an ocean of internet-famous people who capitalize on shortcuts, humor, and the number of clicks a video has. In other words, I believe this shift toward a “less social” media is two-fold. First, it’s intentional, as social media companies have sought to make as much money as possible by pushing as much content as possible – it was inevitable. Second – and most certainly in the case of Meta – it’s intentional to dilute what was traditionally considered “social media” for the FTC lawsuit and, at the same time, position itself as less social and more media. Maybe that’s the cynic in me, but I don’t believe I’m off base here. This brings up an interesting question…

What Does This Mean For Social Media In The Future?

What exactly does the future look like with social media? Will the trend of it becoming “less social” be reversed, if it can even be reversed, or is it here to stay? Does it hold the same value as it once did when it was sold to us as a platform for us to connect with others and build community? What about websites like Reddit that feature forum-based connections – what can we expect to see happen with them? Is there an opportunity for another social media platform to be created that only focuses on personal connections? Lastly – and this question is what started me on this whole research quest in the first place – with social media becoming less social, what does this mean for podcasters? Could there be more authenticity, community building, and growth as a result?

The above is A LOT to unpack – far more than a simple Musing will allow. If all of the above questions are answered, more than one will have to happen. Even so, I revert to my initial question in the beginning:

Investopedia says “Social media refers to online platforms where users can share information and connect with virtual communities through text, video, photos, and other content” (emphasis mine).

It’s hard to do any connecting when all you are doing is consuming content, which is what modern day companies like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. have become. To that end, maybe The New Yorkers headline is correct: Mark Zuckerberg Says Social Media is Over.

Thoughts?

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