[TuringNYC]

>> I'm sure the YT PMs have proof that this improves engagement.

...and it probably does in the short term, as you just try to engage more with the software trying ever harder to find what you want. But probably also kills engagement in the long term. Personal experience with this: Facebook post-2020 vs Facebook pre-2015.

Facebook pre-2015 was so magical as I was finally reconnecting with long-lost school friends and childhood neighbors we long lost touch with (pre-email friends.)

Facebook post-2020 is me engaging desperately to see something other than the same 10 repeated posts per day...knowing full well that the magic is still in there, just not visible by default. And then one day I just stopped checking.

[rsch]

Yes there was this one day where you open Facebook and literally every other post is Sponsored. And this Reels thing with some random videos from whatever.

But yeah anyway, do you still know people who actually post on Facebook?

[trentgreene]

No, but I kind of miss it. My Facebook years were roughly 2008-2011, and they were magical. You’d talk with your friends in a fun, async, low stress manner, look at funny posts, hear about shitty but fun local shows, post literally random bs you were thinking. And people you know would really engage, Unironically and in good faith. I don’t remember a lot of clout farming in those days (MySpace had a decent amount, so I’m sure it existed).

I don’t think any other social media came close to how purely good Facebook was in its golden years. I’d love for someone to write a book on how it declined.