I make memes that some people have called “shitty”. I used to post on TikTok, too. And I’m on reddit, for now. (all under the same username)

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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 16th, 2023

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  • I disagree that users really have any say in the direction of the platform. Users aren’t clambering for ads or for crappy Amazon products, and so I don’t think it’s the competing interests of users that drive these changes. I see it as more of a conflict between users and owners.

    1. Platform begins with small user base
    2. Investors pour in capital to support and encourage the growth of the user base. At this stage the platform runs at a massive loss. This is when times are good for users.
    3. Investors, now with substantial influence, seek a return on investment by encouraging new anti-features on the platform.

    Maybe this sounds like the same thing, but there are different solutions. If I understand you right, your solution to this problem is to restrict growth, which could allow for a more unified community that could push back against these changes. I would argue to change the incentives, change the governance model, so that the platform is publicly administered or administered by a non-profit or cooperative that is accountable to users, not shareholders. See how this very website (lemmy.ca) is being incorporated as a non-profit. It’s pretty neat!


  • I think we’re talking past each other. I’m talking about different problems with social media - not with the users, but the platforms themselves.

    Here’s a few examples: Reddit cracking down on third-party apps, platforms requiring you to log in before viewing content, relentless tracking and privacy invasions, TikTok turning into a firehose of ads and sponsored content, and Amazon’s gradual transformation into a sketchy marketplace with systemically faked reviews and false advertising on products. These are less to do with the growth of the platform, and more to do with the pressure from management to extract money from users.

    But yeah, I do get your point on how a relentless influx of new users can disrupt an existing community and create severe moderation challenges