[elefantastisch]

Every year at Christmas, I get a card from a family member with a short, personal hand-written note and a 1-page, generic printed update on how their year has been, usually with some pictures.

This is what I want from a social network.

I want to be able to keep up some regular connection with people I don't see on a regular basis. I want us to remember each other, know about major life events, and have a convenient way to reconnect more personally when that makes sense.

For people I see (or want to talk to) regularly, I'll just send messages or group messages.

For more of the topic-centered type of internet community I may want in my life... well HN already does that perfectly.

[snarf21]

I think that is what most people want.. However, I don't know how to make that self-sufficient let alone profitable .. People want free and free means ads and ads means click-bait/faux outrage/addiction.

The old model was this (MySpace) but you had to go look at people .. They didn't come to you and it wasn't addictive enough or profitable enough.