> Isn't the whole premise of modern social media to get you to engage in stuff you would not normally engage in
I think "whole premise" is a bit of an exaggeration, but there is only so much "organic" engagement to be had. Some social media (e.g. Tumblr) don't try to reach too far beyond that. They're content in their niche. Facebook and TikTok, on the other hand, have infinite ambition and infinite appetite for engagement. They're well beyond the point where they need to employ manipulative dark patterns (and keep inventing new ones!) to keep those numbers up.
> Facebook and TikTok, on the other hand, have infinite ambition and infinite appetite for engagement. They're well beyond the point where they need to employ manipulative dark patterns (and keep inventing new ones!) to keep those numbers up.
Mind elaborating here? I'm interested in your perspective regarding social media not employing newly discovered dark patterns (infinite video feeds, shorter content, targeted ads, personalized algorithms, etc)
Well, "social media" covers a lot of things including this right here. Tumblr is IMO one of the best examples of less-manipulative social media recognized as such. There are ads, but they're so ill targeted that they're often the butt of jokes among the denizens. There also is a new-ish algorithmic feed, but the default is strict reverse-chronological people you follow. While people do post videos - often from the bigger or modern sites - they're far from dominant. I think Reddit is at approximately the same "evolutionary level" but I don't hang out there much so I could be wrong.
Personally I find my time on Tumblr much more gratifying than my time on Facebook (yes I still actively use both) but that's more cultural rather than technical. Is the relative lack of vapid "influencer" types a function of culture or format? I think Reddit is at approximately the same "evolutionary level" but I hardly hang out there so I could be wrong. Reddit might also be the main counterexample to the general rule that sheer size and the OP's three axes all go together.
It was confusingly worded but the parent probably holds the same position you do.
They’re saying big social media is beyond the ‘natural’ resting size where they would exists if they did not engage in dark patterns, and so must make and use new ones to stay there.
I think "whole premise" is a bit of an exaggeration, but there is only so much "organic" engagement to be had. Some social media (e.g. Tumblr) don't try to reach too far beyond that. They're content in their niche. Facebook and TikTok, on the other hand, have infinite ambition and infinite appetite for engagement. They're well beyond the point where they need to employ manipulative dark patterns (and keep inventing new ones!) to keep those numbers up.