HN Explorer

Ask HN: What's Missing in Social Media?

3 points by stuckinaloop ↗ HN
hi hn!

I've worked at some social companies in the past (IG and Snap) and I'm curious as to what the next big social media platform might look like.

It seems to me that social media has already gone through several phases:

- Text-based platforms like early forums and blogs.

- Image-centric networks like Instagram and Snapchat.

- Video-focused apps like TikTok and YouTube (Shorts).

- Community-driven spaces like Reddit and Discord.

Each iteration brought its own unique spin on connecting people and fostering communities. I'm curious as to what the hn community thinks what the next form of interaction would be, or what form of interaction do they feel is missing in their life?

I personally feel that we're missing a form of "authentic sharing". There's a couple of platforms / apps that are trying to solve this problem (IG Stories, BeReal, Poparazzi - before it shut down). People want to connect with others in an authentic, un-filtered, un-staged way and I don't think there's a platform that encourages / enforces that.

But I'm also interested in what you guys think!

10 comments

[ 126 ms ] story [ 952 ms ] thread
mtmail
I wonder if https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beme_(app) was too early and could work again. It was super short videos with no editing or post-filtering possible.
stuckinaloop
That's really cool - never heard of Beme. I wonder how it would work today.

1. Record a video (ask a question, give a life update etc). 2. Users could respond back with videos

It's basically like Snapchat but in a public forum

arexxbifs
> What's Missing in Social Media?

Most of all, privacy.

> authentic, un-filtered, un-staged

That's what the net was like _before_ "social media" companies. IRC, Usenet, smallish web forums. You can't astroturf that kind of spontaneity from a VC startup.

alex_lav
> authentic

This smells like a "good old days" interpretation of the internet pre social media. It's always been mostly nonsense, social media just consolidates it.

arexxbifs
Perhaps. But it was heartfelt nonsense, without people trying to "monetize" or build "clout". If someone had joined an IRC channel in 1996 and started advertising cosmetics, they would've been kickbanned faster than you could type "A/S/L?".
alex_lav
Yeah, I just do not believe this is actually true, but I’m glad you have such fond memories.

People have been trying to build clout and sell shit on every available medium as long as capitalism has existed.

arexxbifs
You're right. I'm lying. You passed the test. Anyone who remembers a less commercialized, plaintext Internet is a stooge planted by Big Unix.
alex_lav
Relax, friend. Nobody said anything about lying or tests. I'm asserting that your rose colored glasses are just quite strong. Nothing sinister, nothing offensive.
sfmz
My dream network is like reddit, but no upvotes, downvotes, mods. You ask a question and somebody answers it in a 1-on-1 chat. 1-on-1 human connection -- no pandering to the crowd. If you get along, then you can get added to a friend-list and then chat like on ICQ. Possibly it could prioritize people in your neighborhood, so maybe you can connect with someone nearby.