The decline of Twitter has prompted the emergence of potential successors in the realm of social media. People are exploring new platforms like Meta’s Threads, fueled by enthusiasm rather than experience. However, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that creating content for a social media platform controlled by an unaccountable billionaire will yield different results. History has shown that platforms like Facebook and Twitter start off as vibrant communities but eventually give way to polarized subcultures and questionable viral content. This is the reality we face, unless social media companies consciously choose to break this cycle.
The current moment of transition presents an opportunity for social media companies to reimagine the concept of social media. Platforms like Threads and Bluesky are still works in progress, giving us the chance to shape their direction. It is crucial that these platforms do not merely mimic their predecessors but instead learn from their mistakes. Previous platforms prioritized provocative engagement to maximize short-term profits, but this approach undermined the integrity of the social networks, leading to user and advertiser alienation. Today’s platforms can choose a different path by focusing on building trust through new rules and features that ensure their long-term viability.
Here are some suggestions on what that new path could look like. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there will always be differing opinions on these recommendations. However, the necessity of this conversation and the need to redefine our expectations from social media before embracing it again are points on which we should all agree.
1. Establish Clear Guidelines: The moderation process of platforms like Facebook and Twitter lacks transparency, making it difficult for users to trust the decisions being made. To counter this, a set of detailed and publicly accessible criteria should govern suspensions, bans, and other punishments. These criteria need to be clearly communicated, regularly updated, and consistently applied. Transparency will foster a healthier online community by avoiding arbitrary decision-making.
2. Embrace Impermanence and Privacy: Unlike real-world conversations that fade into obscurity, online interactions are preserved indefinitely, preventing individuals from outgrowing their past mistakes and immature remarks. Platforms should consider automatically archiving old content, making it inaccessible to others after a certain period, such as 30 days. This would allow social media to become a space for ongoing conversations and personal growth, rather than trapping users in their worst moments.
3. End Harmful Trends: Social media platforms often amplify harmful discussions through their trending sections. This choice to emphasize controversial content contributes to the proliferation of negative behaviors. Instead of stirring unrelated conversations, platforms should let users discuss topics of their interest without artificially incentivizing trend-chasing content. This approach will free online activism from the limitations of hashtag campaigns that prioritize visibility over meaningful impact.
4. Ban World Leaders Who Ban Their Citizens: Leaders who incite violence or spread hate speech pose significant challenges for social media platforms. Moderating their extreme statements is a complex task that invites controversy and backlash. The solution lies in keeping them off the platform altogether. These leaders have alternative ways to communicate their messages, and banning them from social media will encourage them to focus on their constituents rather than perform for an online audience. Alternatively, if a country restricts access to a social media site for its citizens, its political leaders and diplomats should be blocked from using the platform as well to prevent dictatorships from silencing their own people.
Social media was introduced into our society without proper deliberation regarding its implications. While it has empowered marginalized voices and exposed injustices, it has also contributed to a decline in civil discourse, oversimplified complex issues, and fostered a culture of conspiracy. Many of these shortcomings are inherent human flaws, but the initial structure of social media platforms intensified and rewarded these behaviors. To ensure the success of the next generation of social media companies, it is imperative that they address these failures. These platforms now have an understanding of the immense power they wield, including their influence over presidents and response to global crises. It is time to rebuild their infrastructure with the lessons learned from the past.
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