I think the sense of doom (which I’m no stranger to myself) comes from thinking of the existing Big Social advertiser-oriented products as ends in themselves of sorts, and from bundling all their users into one big group of Big-Social-enthusiasts. In reality, the “ends” here are diverse communities, subcultures, networks of individuals that keep in touch. They become the product because they use whatever works, not because they necessarily endorse or approve those platforms for their own sake.
The first arrival of the Web and waves of network effects and excitement fueled the big platforms of today, but after all that hype those smaller islands-communities are becoming more pronounced among the general disillusionment (domestic cozy and all that). And, luckily, the smaller a community or subculture, the easier it is for it to switch to a self-hosted or more honest alternative.
Undoubtedly, ad-driven platforms will try to retain those islands by providing features or side-products communities might find convenient. However, as independent alternatives become mature and reliable, I hope the savvier and more conscious communities will[0] be resisting feeding the Big Social’s troll-driven data-mining oligopoly (or whichever next shady fad) and stay out, except for an odd visit to publish something intended for a wider audience or watch the dumpster fire burn out of morbid curiosity.
I think raising and maintaining awareness of the grossness of shady business models and their consequences, as well as vetting and suggesting alternatives, is best we can do.
[0] Most likely many already do, but naturally I wouldn’t hear about it unless I’m part of one. (Notably, as a result of this migration, many communities might become more closed, which is a bit sad to consider—and yes, Big Social is very much not without blame here again.)
The first arrival of the Web and waves of network effects and excitement fueled the big platforms of today, but after all that hype those smaller islands-communities are becoming more pronounced among the general disillusionment (domestic cozy and all that). And, luckily, the smaller a community or subculture, the easier it is for it to switch to a self-hosted or more honest alternative.
Undoubtedly, ad-driven platforms will try to retain those islands by providing features or side-products communities might find convenient. However, as independent alternatives become mature and reliable, I hope the savvier and more conscious communities will[0] be resisting feeding the Big Social’s troll-driven data-mining oligopoly (or whichever next shady fad) and stay out, except for an odd visit to publish something intended for a wider audience or watch the dumpster fire burn out of morbid curiosity.
I think raising and maintaining awareness of the grossness of shady business models and their consequences, as well as vetting and suggesting alternatives, is best we can do.
[0] Most likely many already do, but naturally I wouldn’t hear about it unless I’m part of one. (Notably, as a result of this migration, many communities might become more closed, which is a bit sad to consider—and yes, Big Social is very much not without blame here again.)