Social Networks in 2023
Alex MacGregor
October 01, 2023
Popular X handle ‘World of Statistics’ posted an interesting question lately that kinda got my attention:
“You have to get rid of two apps forever, which ones will you choose?
So, straight up in 2023, what would you choose? For me, it’s a no brainer…X and YouTube.
X
X, formerly Twitter, is probably the second social network most of us joined after Facebook (or Myspace!) and is the one that is the only one that’s uncensored and unruly. Sometimes offensive, often very funny, X is the one app aside from Messaging and Email apps that I’m literally checking multiple times a day!
We’ve seen the fall out of Elons takeover, multiple clones from Mastodon to Meta' Threads come and go. Nothing can replace X and everyone knows it. What I want to see is X basically becoming more like YouTube in some ways, using AI to help give us the best content in addition to the awesome community we’ve all built there.
YouTube
Good old YouTube, perhaps the only social network that hasn’t been plagued with the troubles of the Facebook’s and X’s. It’s chugged along without much fan fare, user interface updates or what not. The thing with YouTube is that it really is video, nowhere else comes close. Netflix and Prime etc plus other VOD do have good original content but YouTube’s UGC engine is unparalleled. It’s where the best creators go, and where we go to enjoy their content.
YouTube kinda just works, despite YouTube Premium sub fees going up, we’re sure as hell going to keep paying for it. Without YouTube, I’d get back an hour a day but I’d miss out on so much god damn knowledge and entertainment.
What’s wrong with IG/FB
Well, FB is an interesting one. Like any popular nightclub, it has it’s day and then fades off into the sunset. Like death and taxes. FB retains a huge userbase but honestly, what do we use FB for now aside from groups, birthdays and selling old stuff? There’s not much more to say.
IG on the other hand, it was THE friend app after FB became uncool. IG was that place to share photos with friends. And for what it did, it did very well. Aside from photos, it also is our main friend social graph, it’s not just high school or college friends, its our global friends we’ve met from our travels.
TikTok changed all that. The AI video app basically alerted IG to copy their AI powered video recommendation and in turn fucked up the app’s appeal with random videos now appearing in your feed. Maybe another app will give us a true social graph again, but alas in the AI era, that’s doubtful
What else is out there? Snapchat meh. TikTok is more entertainment than networking. Discord? Geeky af.
Is there room for another social network in 2023. Again doubtful, BeReal, Clubhouse etc came and went. Whato do you think? is Social over? Let me know.