The Year of Social Media Soul-Searching: Twitter Dies, X and Threads Are Born and AI Gets Personal
We look back on the significant events in social media during 2023 and explore what to anticipate in the following year. This year has seen the rise of new platforms, the expansion of AI, and social media’s impact on mental health.
The End of Twitter and the Birth of X and Threads
In 2023, Twitter underwent a significant transformation, led by Elon Musk, resulting in the emergence of X. However, X has encountered challenges such as allegations of misinformation, racism, and declining usage. Musk’s ambitions for X include transforming it into an “everything app,” akin to China’s WeChat.
Meanwhile, Bluesky, a project initiated by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, gained attention and attracted fed-up Twitter users. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, launched Threads as a rival to Bluesky. Furthermore, Zuckerberg announced the interconnection of Threads accounts with other platforms, embracing the idea of interoperability.
Social Media and Mental Health
The impact of social media on mental health, particularly among children and teens, became a focal point in 2023. The U.S. surgeon general warned about the safety of social media for this demographic, urging immediate action to safeguard their well-being.
Meta faced legal action as dozens of U.S. states sued the company, alleging that Instagram and Facebook features contribute to the youth mental health crisis. Former Meta executive Arturo BĂ©jar testified before a Senate subcommittee, shedding light on the company’s knowledge of the harms caused by Instagram and the lack of meaningful changes to address them. In response, the Federal Trade Commission proposed extensive changes to regulations that govern online companies’ interaction with children.
The Rise of AI in Social Media
Social media platforms introduced AI chatbots that users can interact with, with Meta envisioning a future where holograms of friends and coworkers, as well as AI bots, would facilitate human connections. The integration of AI into social media platforms will increase their reliance on AI to drive usage, advertising performance, and revenues.
With major elections approaching, the role of AI and social media in disseminating misinformation will remain at the forefront. The potential impact of audio and video capabilities distributed on social platforms underlines the need for preparedness in handling such content.
Conclusion
The year 2023 marked a significant turning point for social media, witnessing the demise of Twitter and the emergence of new platforms such as X, Threads, and Bluesky. Simultaneously, the discourse surrounding AI and its intimate integration into social media platforms has garnered increased attention.
As we look ahead to the coming year, the intersection of social media, technology, and mental health will likely continue to be a source of debate and regulation. 2023 was a year of soul-searching for social media users, and the evolution of these platforms will undoubtedly shape the social media landscape of the future.
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Source: phys
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