💎 Is the internet ruining community?
The Tuesday edition of 💎Cultural Gems💎
💎cultural gems💎
The cultural moments and media that we can’t stop talking about…
DID APPLE JUST KILL SOCIAL APPS?, ny times
This article’s title is a little dramatic, but the changes Apple has made to a well-known feature will make it challenging for new social apps to break through. Developers are calling it the “end of the world.”
“That’s because ‘contact sync,’ as the feature is known by some developers, has played a critical role in the growth of many social and messaging apps for the past two decades. It’s how apps like Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat were able to find their footing, by quickly connecting millions of iPhone users to people they already knew, and suggesting other users for them to follow. That early momentum helped kick-start their viral growth, propelling them to the top of the App Store charts.”
The apps we all use now will be okay, but this will definitely impact how new friend-based apps find growth.
FACEBOOK ROLLS OUT A YOUTH-FOCUSED REFRESH, social media today
If we are trying to get back to our IRL communities, Facebook is trying to come with us. Meta is sharing more information on how it’s targeting younger audiences by helping them navigate their offline lives with a new “Local” tab being tested in several U.S. cities, along with additional updates to Marketplace, Messenger, and Matchmaker.
[Does anyone actually want to use Facebook Dating? Unclear…]
I’ll be interested to see which of these changes stick, but like we’ve been saying, it’s important for brands and creators to not underestimate the power of Facebook. Click here to read MTD’s take on that.
Read on for more on how the internet is reshaping community, how malls are trying to make a comeback, and how micro trends killing personal style below ⬇️
