Seeking Socials
The proliferation of social media applications within recent memory begs the question. Do we need so many platforms? The search begins following attempts to manifest brands on Twitter, paying for course material that differentiates the successful strategies of users.
In fact, an anecdote within the author's experience bears witness to a particular individual, Jeremy Singh, who's successfully taken nine months and grown his following to some odd 31,000 folks.
The strategies might work. The platforms may offer new amenities. Still, is there a large enough demand to be on another platform, inviting others to join us?
The platforms include, but are not limited to the following:
The list continues, but the memory falters.
Specialization over Diversification
In the author's experience, diversification has not manifested much success. In fact, as far as systems go, 'putting eggs in several baskets' only spreads efforts and attention very thin. Whereas, other examples of profiles on platforms, while anecdotal, represent the power of persistence. I like to refer to prolific writer, @tarazkp, for inspiration, provoking thought and an excellent example of what continued effort creates.
While he and Jeremy Singh on Twitter represent what diligence does, the Cambrian explosion of social media applications, both decentralized and centralized, leaves the author curious as to what all the fuss is about.
Mainstream or Underground
The other evening a post shared what the Stellar Development Fund describes as five myths and consequently, five truths about crypto.
In their piece, SDF pointed out that crypto is not purely for speculation, but that it is becoming popularly used for sending money between countries.
Admittedly, previous views of HIVE categorized it as a social media platform, however, in the face of these alternatives cropping up, offering parallels in features and drawing comparisons to each other, the idea that HIVE sits among them does not quite fit.
The distinction is, crypto may be becoming mainstream, or at least penetrating the collective social awareness. Similar to how social media seems to be the topic on everyone's minds, people might be seeing alternatives. Yet, the existence of these options does not mean there is demand nor merit for these alternatives.
Take, tumblr, for instance. A site the author previously used for sharing images, this platform has not seen much attention since the public learned Yahoo wished to acquire it. Since that headline, not much has come up again.
Do these new platforms await the same fate? HIVE, by contrast, has real demand as users build value that they cannot find elsewhere. Yet, for Bluesky, built by Jack Dorsey after leaving Twitter behind, many aspects are similar to his former site, and even lacking in comparison.
The present opinion follows: these platforms seem to be focused on creating the next "best site". Would they find more success in improving upon on what they have?