Internet Users Rebuild Smaller Online Communities After 10 Years of Social Media Decline
Updated
Updated · Salon · Aug 23
Internet Users Rebuild Smaller Online Communities After 10 Years of Social Media Decline
2 articles · Updated · Salon · Aug 23
Summary
Smaller, people-first online communities are gaining traction as users drift away from bot-filled, algorithm-driven social platforms that many no longer see as places to gather.
Around 2015, that earlier web culture began to erode as Facebook and other giants captured ad revenue, inflated video metrics and helped shutter blogs, forums and media sites that had hosted niche communities.
X under Elon Musk, spam-heavy Facebook and chat apps that splintered Reddit-style discussion have pushed users further toward passive scrolling or closed groups instead of open conversation.
Newer and revived models are trying to fill the gap: Defector has built a subscriber community, Stereogum and Pitchfork are leaning on paid supporters and comment sections, while Digg and Myspace are relaunching or weighing returns.
The shift suggests the internet's social future may be smaller and more intentional, with users willing to return regularly if a site offers strong conversation rather than scale.