Attention Media ≠ Social Networks
3 days ago
- #Mastodon
- #attention economy
- #social media
- Early social networks were genuinely social, focusing on updates from people users knew or liked.
- The shift from Web 2.0 optimism to attention media occurred between 2012 and 2016.
- Infinite scroll and bogus notifications disrupted user experience and violated user-platform agreements.
- Timelines became dominated by content from strangers rather than friends, making platforms feel less social.
- Mastodon offers a return to original social networking principles, with user-controlled content and no manipulative notifications.