Revamping Social Media: Strategies for Improvement
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Chapter 1: Current Challenges in Social Media
Social media platforms are currently facing significant challenges. They have been summoned to government hearings across Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States, and are embroiled in lawsuits from individuals, civil society organizations, and educational institutions. Additionally, user dissatisfaction is on the rise.
Can we enhance social media platforms for better user engagement? I believe it is possible, as there are already successful examples of platforms that prioritize user satisfaction and minimize toxicity. Understanding these models may provide valuable insights.
The issues plaguing social media today stem not from the technology itself but from the way humans have chosen to utilize it, often resulting in a disconnect from societal values. As is common with impactful technologies, cultural forces are pushing back, and we are witnessing a demand for change.
The problems with social media platforms today aren't solely technical; they reflect deeper societal issues and human decisions.
Section 1.1: Examples of Positive Platforms
Among the social media platforms that enjoy higher user satisfaction and lower toxicity, Pinterest, Medium, Substack, and Wikipedia stand out. Reddit occupies a middle ground. While no platform is immune to negative behavior, these examples demonstrate a commitment to empowering users over algorithmic dominance.
Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Discord often prioritize algorithms over human engagement, creating an adversarial dynamic that can lead to user dissatisfaction. Despite their flaws, these platforms still provide some social value; however, the prevailing sentiment is that their negatives currently overshadow the positives.
This video titled "How to Create a Social Media Strategy for ANY Brand" explores effective strategies for enhancing user engagement on various platforms.
Section 1.2: The Machine-Human Dynamic
At the heart of the current social media predicament lies the balance between machines and humans, characterized by two primary concepts: Informational Asymmetry (IA) and Cultural Alignment (CA).
Informational Asymmetry refers to situations where one party holds more or superior information than another. In the context of social media, platforms often gather extensive user data, giving them an advantage, especially when utilizing algorithms.
Cultural Alignment encompasses the values, norms, and behaviors individuals or societies bring to their social media interactions. These factors shape our expectations and experiences with these platforms.
Platforms that rely heavily on IA tend to undermine user value, exploiting cultural traits to create feedback loops that favor algorithmic alignment over genuine human engagement. This results in polarization and a tendency for users to become ensnared in echo chambers.
Chapter 2: Pathways to Better Social Media
To develop improved social media platforms, a shift toward a more collaborative model is essential. This entails fostering greater equality between humans and machines, where platforms respect human cultural values and establish a healthier balance of informational asymmetry.
Through this approach, platforms can still maintain profitability while minimizing the amount of personal data collected. We've seen success stories in platforms like Pinterest, Medium, and Substack, where user engagement is high, and toxicity levels are low.
The video "How to Create a Social Media Strategy for 2024 Step by Step" provides a comprehensive guide for aligning social media strategies with cultural values.
Ultimately, machines lack the capacity for sentience; they do not grasp the complexities of societal issues such as poverty, inequality, or violence. Thus, it is crucial to prioritize human culture as the guiding principle for algorithms, rather than allowing technology to dictate societal norms.
This misalignment has led to widespread discontent, prompting users to push back against platforms that no longer resonate with their values.