Live data from Hacker News

Instagram Is Facebook Now

embedded.substack.com

191–200 of 396 posts

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#191
post #58

Instagram has slowly been deprioritizing content creation and promoting content consumption. This was clearest to me when they recently moved the Post button up to the top, out of the way, to make room for more consumption buttons within thumb reach. For a good long time IG was the only place I could reliably see actual user-generated content. Moreover it was actual friend-generated content, and mostly they posted th…

As a counter-point, IG recently made it much easier to upload content directly from a desktop operating system. It finally added a button for users upload posts from a web browser from a desktop OS (before, you had to switch the browser's user agent to identify as a mobile device, then refresh). But separately, if professional brands really do take over IG over user-generated content between friends, the runner-up is…

VSCO also doesn't have likes, wonder how that network's been faring.

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#192
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We, as in the IT industry, need to come up with a culture or methodology of 'declaring a product complete' whereby all product managers are gracefully allowed to move on and a product is put into a state of stasis We live in a time when large companies will divest themselves of profitable but not growing businesses because it gets in the way of the core mission, which for large public companies is only one thing. G…

Just FYI. The app that I’ve been working on is designed for a “comfortable stasis.” It may take some time to get there, but I have no interest in metrics-driven growth, or appropriation of people’s PII. We are likely to introduce changes, over time; but these will all be completely focused on Serving our users’ needs more effectively. Kind of refreshing. I’m working for a 501(c)(3), and we don’t need to show “growth”…

Nice! Here's to hoping it's successful and provides benefit to people, and doesn't trigger some startup founder to think they can "monetize all that potential you're leaving on the table" or some such.

I say that jokingly, but honestly, a non/not for profit is probably an really good way to structure some of these things to do an end run around both the market and people's expectations, so I sincerely wish you the best in whatever your endeavor is (and you can consider this me politely asking what it is, so you don't have to feel like you are injecting it into the conversation). :)

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#194

I'm reading a lot of posts here of people who have just decided to drop Instagram. As someone who deleted Facebook only two months ago, and never looked back, I am really hoping this is the beginning of the end for Meta/Facebook/whatever stupid name they call themselves.

There's a famous smoking cessation book (that I cannot remember the name of) with one core theme which is supposedly very powerful in the eyes of smokers. The idea that you gain nothing from smoking. That's my realisation when I quit Facebook.

Meta/Facebook will crumble as more people come to realise that.

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#195
post #58

Instagram has slowly been deprioritizing content creation and promoting content consumption. This was clearest to me when they recently moved the Post button up to the top, out of the way, to make room for more consumption buttons within thumb reach. For a good long time IG was the only place I could reliably see actual user-generated content. Moreover it was actual friend-generated content, and mostly they posted th…

I got rid of my account and started a blog instead. Much more fun to learn about Jekyll, CSS, and improve my long form writing skills anyway. There's federated blog networks like Micro.blog out there, but personally I've just backpedaled to good old RSS myself. If a blog provides it, it's a strong sign they're producing content from a passionate place, rather than trying to collect email addresses and followers for monetization.

Chronological, completely distributed... it feels a bit like rediscovering ancient technology in some science fiction or fantasy universe. "An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#196

In what seems like a blink of an eye, Facebook, is now considered the old people platform, according to kids these days. It took me a while to grasp it but it looks like FB has a huge problem in there hands and it's interesting to see how they tackle their image.

Serious consideration: they are embracing this reality as their primary long-term strategy, anticipating their becoming the defacto “metaverse” virtual world that older people wish to be plugged into. I can clearly see a future in which users can sign over all current and future retirement funds and financial assets, and in exchange be plugged full-time into a “facebook disneyland” to live out the rest of their years in digitally augmented bliss as an avatar alongside friends and family.

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#197

Facebook aside you really see this across the board on almost any platform, that once the product reaches it's 1.0 stage, (where it is good, does what the users want it to do, and has realised its vision) it begins a process of gradual decay, as the focus of the product managers (now panicking to find some statistics to improve to show their bosses) shifts from "building functionality" to "increasing engagement/reten…

This is just business in general though. It's why I am buying toilet paper and IP addresses from the same company. No company is happy just existing and solving one specific problem, they always feel the pressure to expand and grow as much as possible (from shareholders) even if it really doesn't make any sense.

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just FYI. The app that I’ve been working on is designed for a “comfortable stasis.” It may take some time to get there, but I have no interest in metrics-driven growth, or appropriation of people’s PII. We are likely to introduce changes, over time; but these will all be completely focused on Serving our users’ needs more effectively. Kind of refreshing. I’m working for a 501(c)(3), and we don’t need to show “growth”…

Nice! Here's to hoping it's successful and provides benefit to people, and doesn't trigger some startup founder to think they can "monetize all that potential you're leaving on the table" or some such. I say that jokingly, but honestly, a non/not for profit is probably an really good way to structure some of these things to do an end run around both the market and people's expectations, so I sincerely wish you the be…

I am not at liberty to discuss it, at the moment. Even when it ships, it probably won’t be mentioned here, as it Serves a very specific demographic, and probably won’t be of interest to most folks.

You can always contact me (via my Web sites), and I could talk about it a bit more.

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#199

Reddit started doing this too over the summer - aggressively showing me content from other subreddits in my feed taking any interaction with the posts as proof that I should join them as well. I find it annoying too since curating a list of my favorite subreddits was always a fundamental part of using the site.

that's why I use reddit clients like sync for reddit ..no recommendation bs just get the feed from subreddits I subscribed for .. imo you should try it

The one thing that keeps reddit going for me is their detente policy with third-party clients and browser add-ons. I can use RES + old reddit redirect on my desktop browsers and Narwhal on my phone, and I can completely avoid ads and scummy behavior that's seeping into the site in general. Unlike, say, Facebook, who literally spent thousands and thousands of (wo)man hours figuring out how to beat ad blockers in the News Feed.

Someone at Reddit is still looking out for power users, giving us ways to beat the system and still use the site. And it's remained the only (non-HN) social media I can stand for years as a result. Whoever you are, thank you!

Re: Instagram Is Facebook Now

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do the same with RuneScape. Doing virtual fishing for an hour. It's just stimulating enough to not be boring while trivial enough to not be stressful.

RuneScape still exists?!? Talk about an enduring company.

Yeah surprisingly its not only just existing, but the rate of new content and updates is probably the best is ever been. Some fun stuff happening right now for the 20th year anniversary.
Post reply on HN