Kyle Chayka, a writer for The New Yorker, discusses how social media has changed over the years and why “normal people” have stopped posting their personal lives online.
The main points of the discussion are:
- A Shift in Content: The platforms have de-prioritized content from “normal people” in favor of news headlines, professional influencer content, and AI-generated media. The medium has become “higher brow” with a higher production value, making it difficult for average people to keep up.
- Social Media is Less Social: The purpose of social media has changed from being a way to connect with friends and family to a space for consuming highly commodified content, advertising, and lifestyle aspirations. This shift makes social media feel like an endless stream of commercials.
- The Rise of Private Sharing: As public feeds become less personal, people are moving their sharing to more private, intimate channels like direct messages and group chats. The discussion suggests that new apps or platforms may emerge to serve this need for private online social networks.
- The Downside of Broadcasting: The speaker suggests that people have learned the downsides of broadcasting their private lives online, such as public shaming and viral embarrassments. For many, the deal of posting publicly is no longer worth the risk unless they are trying to become a professional influencer.
- A Possible “Posting Zero” Future: The video proposes a future where “posting zero” becomes the norm, meaning people will stop posting online because there’s no incentive to. The conversation notes that this trend may lead to a desire for more in-person interactions. The speaker gives an example of his daughter, who has deleted her social media apps and doesn’t post, suggesting that the era of public sharing might have been an “aberration.”