Is Social Media Becoming 'Hollow Media'?
Reflections on the future of social networks.
Since the end of the 2010s, social media giants—Meta, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Snapchat—have dominated the landscape, capturing our attention with invisible strategies. Following TikTok's breakthrough in 2019, newcomers have struggled to carve out their niche. BeReal, the anti-Instagram, captivated users in 2022, but its momentum quickly faded. One photo a day? Too little to leave a lasting impression.
When the giants imitate, the modern reality is relentless: while innovation may spark the initial fire, it is the social flywheel—this ever-revolving loop of interactions—that sustains the flame.
The Void Wears Pixels
And tomorrow? Revolutionary formats are poised to emerge: volumetric videos, holograms, 3D… But before we even get there, a far more insidious trend is emerging: bots. Once rejected, pushed to the margins, and hidden in the shadows, they are now being embraced with open arms. With Social AI, they are not just tolerated—they’re glorified, becoming our new digital companions.
In this new landscape, the human element fades, replaced by endlessly available AI—tailor-made "followers": intellectuals, trolls, conservatives... A parade of virtual entities, carefully designed to flatter or contradict us based on our whims.
What used to be a social experience is now turning into a personal journal, a space for introspection without judgment, where we hone our argumentative skills without ever facing the friction of real human interaction. But make no mistake. These aren’t friends—they’re simulations, performing a cold, dehumanizing choreography.
At what cost?
We’re witnessing a new form of post-irony. What may at first seem grotesque—a bitter satire of modern networks, where superficiality reigns under the guise of engagement—is gradually becoming an accepted reality, a new way of living.
This may seem like an isolated case, but it reflects a broader reality: we are living in an era where virtual influencers, digital clones, and AI companions are multiplying. Who would have imagined that humans, so eager to seek warmth and connection, would turn to entities with neither heart nor soul?
Behind this trend lies a darker truth: it’s not just digital friends we are seeking. By interacting with these AIs, we become their test subjects. We feed them our thoughts, our emotions, without even realizing it. And they learn. They evolve. And we, we regress.
The Weight of Artifice
Under the weight of artifice, the omnipresence of AI, which is supposed to reduce loneliness, could actually intensify it. Authentic interactions require vulnerability, dialogue, and the acceptance of imperfections. Retreating into programmed conversations only serves to reinforce emotional isolation while exacerbating narcissistic tendencies.
Even in the digital realm, subtle signs of humanity persist: response times, hesitations, or wording errors reveal a real presence behind the screen. In contrast, AIs, with their instant and flawless responses, erase the spontaneity that makes our interactions unique.
This uniformity can lead to emotional fatigue, disconnecting exchanges from human complexity. In the long run, this pursuit of algorithmic perfection threatens to diminish our social skills, as learning to build relationships relies on the unpredictability and nuances that characterize human interactions.
Enter the Hobby Apps?
Ethical platforms are emerging, but their strength—whether through benevolent algorithms or their absence—is also their Achilles' heel. Less focused on the social flywheel, they struggle to "scale" against the established giants.
However, not everything is bleak. There are counterexamples. Some platforms, by focusing on passions and communities, manage to recreate a form of authentic engagement. Hobby apps like Strava are proof of this. Initially centered on tracking sports performance, they have transformed into genuine community networks. On Strava, users don’t just share their sporting achievements: they like, comment, motivate each other with kudos, and participate in virtual clubs around collective challenges. Here, engagement is built on a natural dynamic, rooted in shared interests.
The same phenomenon occurs on platforms like Goodreads for book lovers or Shelf, where users share their media discoveries.
These networks show that it is still possible to build rich communities, reminding us that behind every exchange lies a human experience.
From Dark Patterns to Human Patterns
So, are social networks doomed to sink into 'Hollow Media,' that empty virtual space where artificial interactions prevail? This danger has never been more tangible. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerges.
As our awareness shifts toward a more authentic form of prosperity, a change is taking shape. We can move from Dark Patterns—those invisible manipulations that capture our attention—to Human Patterns, mechanisms that respect our need for real connection.
Consider this: on some dating platforms, the copy-paste function is disabled in chats. This simple adjustment creates a friction that promotes authentic exchange. By making the process more complex, users are less likely to rely on pre-written or AI-generated responses, encouraging more thoughtful and personal interactions.
Another example is Slowy, an app that offers a traditional mobile correspondence experience. Here, the delay in sending messages depends on the distance between users, turning each exchange into an anticipated and meaningful moment. This approach highlights how well-thought-out features can ensure a human dimension and restore meaning to connections.
By guiding social networks toward more authentic interactions, grounded in community, shared passions, and human patterns, we could spark a true renaissance—where digital platforms truly enhance human connection instead of alienating us.
MD
haha wow Social AI perfectly embodies this generation's main character syndrome