In 2025, a tech writer attempted to re-engage with major social media platforms after years of avoidance, only to find them dominated by sponsored content and AI-generated material that eroded genuine human connections. This personal experience reflected a broader disillusionment, making it simpler to step away despite record user numbers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Alternatives like Reddit and Bluesky offered some respite amid the commercial overload.
The shift was stark for the author, who described social media's transformation into what felt like 'thinly varnished ecommerce sites sprinkled with brute-forced AI oddities.' On Instagram, interactions quickly devolved from rare posts by family or friends into a cycle of sponsored content, influencer videos, and brand promotions. 'The real people have left. The connection is gone. The FOMO is no more,' the writer noted, highlighting the loss of the quasi-social jolt that once kept users hooked for hours.
TikTok resembled a 'frenzied shopping mall,' with most videos clocking in at four seconds and geared toward promotion or shopping. YouTube Shorts, meanwhile, overflowed with AI slop, including 'fake footage of desperate wild animal babies' and 'simulated toddlers admonishing their pets,' deterring the author from prolonged engagement. Despite occasional gems like cultural explanations or decadent recipes, boredom set in rapidly.
This ennui stems from corporate priorities: shareholders demand growth, leading to more ads on Instagram, shoppable features on TikTok, and engagement-driven AI content on YouTube. Yet, platforms thrive; Instagram reached 35 percent of the global population, while billions continue scrolling TikTok and watching YouTube Shorts.
Not all spaces falter. Reddit stands out with its community of 'actual people,' subdued ads, and strict vigilance against AI intrusions, allowing the author to enjoy subs on topics from happy cows to local Albuquerque news. Bluesky evokes pre-X Twitter, fostering discussions on societal dismay, though it remains small and unprofitable. As a Gen-Xer, the writer embraces limited use, lamenting the profit-driven erosion of creativity and connections on dominant platforms.