Social media is an empty vessel

Social media is an empty vessel

Many people complain about social media, and often rightfully so. While it can be an amazing tool, there are significant downsides to it. We can talk about the pros and cons of each, but I think TikTok is a unique case among all others. It’s the most vilified by politicians, but it’s also the most accurate reflection of what we really want.

In a recent podcast, Gary Vaynerchuk summarized it perfectly. He said:

“TikTok’s a super empty vessel. Their business is very simple: we are going to build an algorithm that only give you more of what you’ve shown us you want. Period.”

All of social media is like that to a degree, but TikTok is easily the best example. Other networks inject more of what they want you to see, whereas TikTok focuses exclusively on what they think you want to see. While this is the best thing about TikTok, it’s also the worst, as that approach is what’s leading to such unhealthy obsession among many people.

Is TikTok really to blame? Users are providing all of the content, and users are deciding what they want to see. TikTok is just an empty vessel, collecting content from users and spitting it back out.

The next few years should be interesting, as other social networks appear to be trying to follow suit. Instagram and Twitch are both moving to a “content > followers” model like TikTok, and others won’t be far behind.

Are these empty vessels dangerous and/or problematic? Or are they just a reflection of exactly what we want to see?

Chris LaFay

DOPE WEBSITES ??? EO Atlanta member who enjoys ????????

6 个月

This is one of the reasons I try to meet up with people with different experiences than me: trying to get as many different perspectives on life and business as possible.

Carol Niemi

Founder and Strategist at Stand Marketing, LLC

6 个月

Other than LinkedIn, social media have transformed narcissism and voyeurism, which for eons of human history were considered undesirable, even reprehensible behaviors, into money-making businesses whose practitioners have often become celebrities. Just one of the many examples of how traditional values are being turned inside out. Which goes back to our earlier topic of what's driving people into in-groups. When culture is in turmoil, people retreat to the safety of the tribe, just as our prehistoric ancestors formed clans and then tribes as protection from predators and enemies.

Paul Knowlton, Esq., MDiv.

AV Rated | Partner @ Stanton Law | CEO @ Institute for Better Capitalism

6 个月

Mickey, I suspect some leaders of TikTok were familiar with at least one of the versions of the Greek myth of Narcisssus. The way I'd summarize the TikTok business model is: we are going to build an algorithm that sieges on that basic human flaw and scale it.

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