The End of Social Media and the Rise of Recommendation Media

The article discusses Meta's recent shift of the Facebook newsfeed towards an algorithmic recommendation-based model, moving away from the traditional friend-focused social media system. This shift, echoing Instagram and platforms like TikTok, marks the rise of "recommendation media" where content is curated by algorithms rather than networks of personal connections. Such a system prioritizes engagement and attention over popularity, changing the dynamic and power balance for creators. Unlike in social media where content distribution relies on social graphs, recommendation media platforms determine content visibility, enabling more efficient and tailored content experiences for users. This transition brings challenges, like backlash from influential users such as Kylie Jenner and the inherent loss of creator control, as well as benefits such as reduced need for content moderation and minimized problematic content spread. The future could see similar models being adopted by professional media platforms like Netflix, potentially embracing user-generated or AI-created content to meet diverse content needs. This shift envisions a future with less explicit social choices and more algorithmically influenced consumption patterns, raising questions about the evolution of social media and potential opportunities for challengers.