How do you think social media is going to evolve?
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We went from status updates → stories → short-form video.
From friends → followers → strangers with shared interests.
From flexing → performing → now… what?
Feels like something's about to break, and rebuild.
Here’s a take:
The next wave won’t be about going viral - it’ll be about belonging.
Smaller circles. Real-time hangs. Less algorithm, more intention.
Curious what you think comes next.
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Replies
🎯 I strongly agree that the next wave is about Belonging.
Two thoughts I'd like to share with you:
1. “The Internet of Meaning” ✨
It's no longer information overload; it's “meaning overload”-certainly in a positive sense. We are drawn to content and communities that truly feed our souls, help us grow, or make us feel less alone. Algorithms may evolve from “guessing what you like” to “guessing what you need” or “helping you find your kind”.
2. “Slow Social” (Slow Social) ⏳
In response to the fast-paced short videos, there may be a trend towards “Slow Social”. Fewer notifications, deeper interactions, and more focus on quality rather than quantity. Like hand-brewed coffee, enjoy the process, not the instant flavor in one gulp.
Curious if you've spotted any new products or features that already reflect this trend? 🤔
@partick_support That was beautifully said, and I really hope we move in that direction. But I worry we don’t have the attention span for it anymore. People crave belonging but the pull of the mainstream is strong. Brainrot is real. Both can exist, but mass behavior still leans toward the quick hit.
minimalist phone: creating folders
A lot of conversation and showcasing is shifting from feeds to DMs so you can expect more ads in your inbox.
There is also an AI trend with avatars to spark engagement.
I once wrote about the future of social media in 2025 in my Substack newsletter and avatars was one of trends (even AI avatars earning better than humans) :)
@busmark_w_nika I hadn’t thought about that, but yes, I can totally see it happening (even though I’d personally hate it).
Just checked out your Substack,really great stuff. I especially liked the AI + SEO article. I’m working on a directory/community project at my current company, so we’ve been deep in the SEO trenches too.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@chaosandcoffee The thing is, the more AI models are effective, the more our future is unpredictable – the labour market is shrinking, we desperately need to create new career roles :D
Yeah, totally with you on this, Furqaan.
It feels like we’ve hit a wall. Everyone’s kinda tired of performing, chasing views, posting for the algorithm. It’s starting to feel empty. I think what’s next is way more low-key smaller circles, private spaces, stuff that feels real. More group chats, voice notes, late night calls. Less polished, more present. Not about going viral anymore. Just about feeling like you belong somewhere.
@sayeed1440 Fully agree!
@sayeed1440 rightly said !!
Love this topic, thank you for bringing it up!
I agree, the next wave will probably be more about the smaller circles. That's why the demand for nano-influencers has started to increase in the last couple of years, and why there's so much talk around the importance of building communities.
I do believe we'll see an increase in the number of people who use the internet more intentionally and cautiously, trying to stay away from mindless scrolling or oversharing. With this, we'll probably see more and more startups that focus on helping users stop their social media addiction / learn to use social media in a way that doesn't affect their mental health. It will surely be interesting to see how the social platforms will adapt, and I assume we'll unfortunately start seeing more and more ads in the messaging area.
@ruxandra_mazilu Yeah, I’m really concerned about the long-term effects social media will have on mental development, we’re still too early to fully understand how damaging it could be.
I think the next stage of social might actually go full circle and pivot back to IRL. You can already see it with dating apps shifting focus to in-person connections, some are even organizing run clubs instead of pushing endless swiping.
Pokecut
I totally agree that the next evolution will be about belonging over broadcasting. People are craving intimacy and authenticity, not another viral dance trend. We’re already seeing whispers of this: private group chats, close friends stories, niche Discord servers, and even good old-fashioned forums making a comeback.
Lancepilot
Social media’s moving from broadcasting to bonding, less “look at me,” more “hang with me.”
I think the next wave is niche, real-time, and participatory. People don’t want more content, they want connection.
@priyankamandal So a bunch of engaging micro-communities?
Pokecut
Love your take! 👏 Totally agree—the pendulum seems to be swinging back toward intimacy and authenticity. We're all craving genuine connections, not just fleeting likes or views. I see the next wave being about meaningful micro-communities, spontaneous interactions, and platforms that put people (not algorithms) first. Excited to see how products evolve to fill this need! 🚀✨
Foundity
I saw some people saying that social media is in the 'creator founder era,' what do you think?
@isabelle_dijkhorst I think as an early-stage founder, it’s almost impossible to get traction without having a social presence. And now with AI lowering the barrier to building and launching, we’re definitely going to see a lot more creator-founders emerge. So yeah, the term feels pretty accurate.
Umm.. I believe AI is absolutely going to reshape the next era—whether we like it or not. Imagine:
Personalized AI 'agents' that filter content for you (not just what keeps you scrolling)
Real-time hangouts with AI-facilitated convos (no more awkward silences?)
Micro-communities where AI helps curate members based on deeper interests, not just surface-level engagement
But I love your point about belonging over virality. The best-case scenario? AI helps us cut through the noise to find real connection. Worst case, more artificial than ever. Either way, the ‘social’ in social media is due for a reboot!
Querri