2023 predictions: will there be a social media downfall?
Please take all of my assumptions and predictions with a grain of salt.
Now that 2022 is coming to a close, I thought it would be fun to reminisce on my social media behaviors throughout the year as well as what I predict social media to transform into throughout 2023.
In 2022, my main social media apps were YouTube, Snapchat (ew, I know), Pinterest, and Substack. Back in 2021, I decided to delete Instagram and Twitter and at the start of 2022 I deleted TikTok. Although I deleted what I would call the most popular apps, I was still “chronically online” (“extremely online” is a more appropriate term for this phrase as being online is not a chronic illness, however, this is the phrase that mainstream media has picked up on). I spent most of my time consuming video essays from creators such as Tiffany Ferg, Alice Cappelle, and Shanspeare, Although video essays can be quite insightful and give me a new perspective on various culture phenomenons, I realized that I am still, and probably will always be, a media consumer, regardless of the medium of my choosing.
Maybe it is just the social media niches that I circulate in, yet it feels like as a collective, social media has become extremely boring. When I got my first phone back in 2014, I loved the mere thrill of connecting with my friends online, my iPhone 4 was a shiny, new gadget that I was enthralled to be the owner of. Flash forward 8 years later and now my phone has become so enmeshed with my everyday life that the excitement that was once there has turned into severe depression, a constant need for fast-paced entertainment, and a lack of cognitive abilities.
As a collective, I think there will come a time where social media as we know it may come to a close. Here are my social media predictions for 2023:
1. The obvious one, Twitter will begin to rot just like the month old cheese in the back of your fridge.
Dare I say more? I think the majority of us can agree that Twitter is becoming a cultural wasteland, many blame Elon for the destruction of the blue bird, and while that is a factor, I have thought for many years now that Twitter is just one giant headache. When I deleted Twitter, I was afraid that I was not going to be in the loop of valuable news, but then I remembered that news media outlets exist (shocking!!). After deleting this putrid app, I downloaded CNN, and subscribed to The New York Times and Apple News, honestly, I was very disappointed in myself for not using news outlets to retrieve my news sooner. As The Atlantic writer, Ian Bogost states “The possible downfall of Facebook and Twitter is an opportunity- not to shift to some equivalent platform, but to embrace their ruination, something previously unthinkable”. After all of the chaos that Twitter has caused, why would we even think to create an app that would continue the never-ending doom-scroll?
2. Now that every other person on TikTok is an influencer, the app is destined to crash
Before 2009, social networking was the term for connecting with others online, on websites such as MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn. With the advent of Instagram, however, there was an intense shift from social networking to social media. The change of terms shifted the way people were viewed online, no longer were we connecting, but rather publishing. The creation of Snapchat stories and TikTok videos confirms this idea; we had become brainwashed with the idea that each individual was now a creator, we must create content for our audience. This transition, of course, allowed social media companies to increase engagement among users, thus accumulating insurmountable profits (if you have not already, watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix).
Before 2020, deleting one’s social media apps was basically unheard of. However, today, there are countless youtube videos, documentaries, articles, and so-on about the damages of social media and why we should depart from it. We are becoming aware of the psychological damages these apps instill on every one of us, yet, I still use my silly little apps on a daily basis. However, I will now discuss why apps such as TikTok might be the catalyst that will put social media to an end.
TikTok was merely created for engagement, not connecting among friends, or even friends of friends. When I first downloaded the app, I felt as if I too was a creator, even though that was never my intention. The fact that any one of your TikTok videos could go viral, regardless of your current follower count, was quite intriguing, every video I ever posted felt as if I was one ticket closer to winning the lottery. However, if everyone becomes a so-called “influencer” on the app, who will be left to influence? How much content can society possibility create until it becomes lifeless?
As for the viewer’s perspective, TikTok’s for you page is an extremely dangerous game. The algorithm began to know me better than myself, it picked up on my deepest, darkest insecurities and played them in the form of “What I Eat in a Day” or “My 6 AM Morning Routine” videos. These videos made me feel like shit. Here I was, sitting on my bed at 4 PM on a Wednesday, watching someone explain to me their workout routine at SoulCycle. To hell with the algorithm, I eventually had enough. Although deleting TikTok was my individual experience, I know I am not alone. Many of my friends have also stated their conflicts with the app, which is why they too have removed it from their phone. I do not think that we will experience a complete absence of TikTok in 2023, however, as society becomes more aware of the damages this app has caused, I believe more people will begin to flea from the platform.
I honestly do not believe that being an influencer is a bad thing, it is how companies push their products. Come to think of it, influencers have been around for decades, if not centuries! However, I do think there is a problem with the number of social media influencers. Solving the problem of social media influencers will not be an easy feat, yet it appears as if many have come to realize that this is not a sustainable way of living. How many HelloFresh and BetterHelp ads can one promote before they too start to question their own morals and purpose in the world? In order to continue the discussion of influencers, I find it best to create an entirely separate post about this beast.
3. As inflation persists, will we even be able to afford smartphones in the future?
I don’t know about you, but it took me two YEARS to pay off this tiny piece of plastic! Granted I was in college, so my income was extremely limited, but I do not want to pay for another iPhone ever again. So far, I have purchased a new phone every four years, I usually wait until the phone’s battery life is able to last for roughly 45 minutes when not plugged into a charger until I cave and head over to the nearest Verizon. I have had my iPhone X for almost four years now, and while its life may be on the line, I seriously do not want to succumb to the pressure of Apple Incorporated and purchase the next best iPhone, I want this nightmare to end!
As for inflation, will I, and everyone else who is middle or lower class, be able to afford an iPhone within the coming years? Why would I want to spend over $600 on something that has caused me so much anxiety, depression, and nihilism? Inflation does not seem to be leaving us anytime soon, especially since I just purchased chicken breasts for $11, and that was the cheapest price I could find. Will the increase in price of everyday goods aid us in prioritizing what truly matters, and foregoing unnecessary goods such as expensive iPhones?
I oftentimes think about purchasing a standard flip phone and then buying an iPad for activities when I am at home, yet does that solve the problem? I guess I am mostly nervous for the amount of boredom I may experience without my little gadget and the apps stored inside, yet there are ways to solve this miniscule issue, such as actually investing in a hobby, goddamn!!!
With all this being said, I do not think the internet will leave us anytime soon. I oftentimes forget that the internet and social media are two different entities. While the internet may have many problems of its own, I believe it is an amazing space to share one’s creative endeavors. It has given many people possibilities to connect, promote their business, and so on. As the article from The Dirt claimed, maybe it is time to bring back forums?
Although this post was extremely fun to write, most of the claims I have made here are entirely baseless. This was simply a creative piece to get my wheels turning. Please, if you have any further thoughts, or completely disagree with anything I have said above, leave a comment!