During an investor call this past week, the popular social media app, twitter, announced that their app would soon be updated with what they call, "Super Follows". This feature mirrors on other popular social medias that allow people to provide their followers exclusive content behind a paywall, adding another layer to the multiple methods people are able to use to make money on social media. This feature would sublayer accounts to having free access content, and then exclusive content, a lucrative feature for social media influencers. While the feature is definitely lucrative for some users, twitter executives and media alike are lying through their teeth if they truly believe most users wanted this.
Barbara Ortutay from CBS stated in her article "Twitter users — and the company's investors — have long been asking it to launch a subscription-based model. This as a growing number of internet creators and influencers use tools like Patreon, Substack and OnlyFans to make money from their online popularity." which would be accurate if you take out the first four words. Not only have twitter users not asked for subscription services to be added to the app, but they've most certainly been directly opposed to the idea, with the idea teased in the past being met with complaints and threats of migration to Myspace, Facebook etc.
Unfortunately for users upset about this upcoming transition, this isn't a transition unique to twitter, with apps like Facebook and its also undergoing similar commercialization with transitions into e-commerce offerings for small businesses. This blog post isn't meant to say that this isn't helpful for businesses trying to grow, or entrepreneurs attempting to get eyes on new inventions, but to highlight how social media is transitioning into an experience with intentions to generate conversation and create communities, to intentions meant to generate money.
I provided a screenshot of my Instagram feed, and in my first scroll I already come across a post that is only on my timeline, due to a paid sponsorship. Then the fourth icon on the bottom row of the new Instagram, user interface takes you to a dedicated shopping section on Instagram. Things like this have definitely contributed to my tapering Instagram usage compared to when I initially started using the app, but it's obviously making money for the company, rendering my opinion pretty pointless for the company to consider. I hope my fears are proved incorrect but It's more likely than not we see a similar transformation of the twitter app in the near future.
The idea of "Super Follows" reminds me of the Premium Features on LinkedIn. Although it is a good funnel for small businesses to create a community on platforms, I think companies like Twitter, their main goal is to make more money. I have little faith in businesses caring about their consumers and how to make the product better. I think all companies care more about making money than how to make their product better for everyone. Unfortunately, this is a built-in system for all platforms, and I am saddened to say that there is little to do to revert this situation.
I think this blog post touches on something that I've had an issue with for a long time, a movement away from the interaction social media was supposed to allow and help create and towards complete monetization of our attentions. Twitter comparing itself to things like Patreon is simply crazy. Patreon functions because the creators put an immense amount of time into a lot of the things they create (making the pay wall seem worth it), while tweets normally take a few minutes to write and are under 280 characters. I hope to see them revert this change, but I assume the money gained will make it worth their while. Really interesting post.
While premium memberships and features on apps have always caused me to feel a little disgruntled, twitter doing so leaves me even more so. Twitter is the major social media platform and twitter offering premium is the ultimate money grab that, considering the success of only fans, is likely to succeed. Its even more concerning that Twitter claims its userbase has wanted this for a long time. This makes it look like twitter has no idea what its users want and most likely just want to please big names on their platform. Regarding Instagram, while its means of plugging ads to make money is arguably better than a subscription model, its still gives me bad vibes since it shows w…
I also agree that the business integration and advertisements throughout every single social media outlet, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc has been so excessive and frustrating. Before, Instagram was used to just share your personal life, memories, and highlights of your life. Now, its all about making money. What was once a way to connect with other people and keep others updated on your life has now become just a way to advertise. What more frustrating is that you can't opt out of seeing these ads. And these ads pop up every other post it seems like! This has made me go on Instagram way less and I actually hate the new Instagram layout. Not only does it make th…