It’s not about perfect. It needs to be good.
When people ditch one site for another, they always realize that its grass is hardly greener. Not because they had it good before. Or that the new place is all that bad.
Our problems follow us over— because we haven’t solved our problem. We’ve moved it. And they haven’t solved the problem. They’ve just started the process over.
I have little doubt a better option will eventually arrive. But if one does, I am certain it will be because they figured out how to solve these three problems.
They must figure out how to:
1. Minimize emotional harm.
When social media sites become toxic, people stop using them. Social media companies work to make them less toxic. To do this at scale means shutting out millions of people. Those effected cry fowl. They want free speech. “Freeing them from jail” makes the site more toxic…
2. Generate connection.
Social media was built to be social. It offered a vision of bringing people together. Then the algorithmic golden goose led it to generate outrage. Many have since turned to sites that aggregate short media, but a true social media replacement needs to foster connection.
3. Not consume all of our attention.
Profit incentives have led social media companies to hack our brains to gain all of our attention. They create an environment that we never want to leave. Even as it makes us unhappier by the minute. Most of us would prefer an app that promotes a healthier life for everyone.
Anyone who manages to make an app that makes us better people, generates positive connections with others, and encourages us to use it responsibly could replace everything.
Doing this would certainly compromise the app’s profitability. But it would maximize the value for the people who use it.