[rglullis]

If it can not be made profitably, it can not be made into any large scale activity and it will never reach mainstream.

So, if your idea of "can work" is "it works for me and my niche group who all treat it as a hobby" it is already working.

But if your idea of "can work" is "gets us rid of all social network that makes money by selling eyeballs", then the only way to work will be though finding a valid alternative business model.