We are building a more perfect, more human social media platform putting the social back where it belongs. Seriously. Our main focus is to lead a social media revolution to be able to bring user needs into the core business – and keep advertiser needs at the periphery where they belong. It will require people to actually interact with other people in a 1:1 relation or as part of a greater community focused on building in-person social bonds in real life.
Subscription
Social media applications must pay their bills for an enormous amount of development, services and maintenance costs. Therefore, social media must keep both the investors and the users happy. But the problem is that these users are neither investors nor customers. It is the advertisers who are the customers. And investors are just investors. But if you employ a subscription model, users become customers – now they are at the core of the business and it is now primary the user’s needs that we need to serve.
No fake people
So, on a perfect social media platform, no matter if you are a public figure or not, your identity must be individually verified, and you must be personally reachable. You must be a real human being and responsible for everything you bring onto the platform. You must be responsible regarding the people with whom you interact and the manner in which you interact. This does not guarantee people will be more honest or less pretending, but at least they will be real people and the chance that they will be more honest, and less pretending is far greater.
You’re connected or you’re not
If you need to disconnect from someone, you do not need to block people – just disconnect. And if you’re not connected to someone on the platform, they cannot see what you are doing because there are no public user profiles unless you wish to be public. So, there is no real need for blocking – just disconnect!
No likes – no followers
So, what do you want? Do you want friends, or do you want fans? Speaking for myself – I want friends. There will be no possibility for gaming with likes and followers, no fake accounts and no fake followers. None of the ugly stuff you know from current modern social media which, when you think about it, is rather antisocial.
Non-intrusive Ads
Once a social platform becomes an ad platform, only servicing the advertisers at its core, it ceases to be social. Most of the disinformation, privacy breaches and general abuse we see around on social media are all related to the fact that, in order to survive, these platforms have to sell an enormous amount of well targeted and effective ads.
So, if it is the user that pays for a subscription, they are paying the bills, ergo, they are the customers. On an ad platform where you have the advertisers at the core, the advertisers pay the bills. Advertisers are the customers, ergo advertisers are the priority.
Therefore, the user needs to be at the core of the business, to make sure it is primarily the user’s needs the business serves. And by protecting against influencers, we can slow down the flow of bad and misleading information.
Well moderated.
A social network should be well moderated. If users pay for a monthly or yearly subscription, they deserve excellent service and the best security available.
On a well moderated platform people will dare to be themselves and must behave and treat their fellow beings with kindness and respect. No people (I mean real people) will be bullied to the point that they lose their own self esteem. Why? Because they just disconnect and will never again be bothered by the same person – at least not on the platform. Removing bad people from any platform improves the health of the platform. And who want to be on a social media platform where people can make life difficult for you?
The benefits of all this from a business viewpoint is this, we are finally beyond a purely growth revenue model. We can finally focus on maintaining a sustainable and healthy tool that supports the individual growing as a human being through more lasting and rewarding connections with other people.
Thanks for reading – let’s do this!
Jesper Simonsen
I am the founder of LifeBonder and my mission is to create a social media platform that lives up to the promise of what social media can be: A tool to facilitate human connections in real life rather than replacing them online. I want to make the world a better place by filling a growing need for direct socializing outside social media while fighting he negative impact of social media - reconnecting people in friendships that are human, profound and meaningful.
Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, but it has also brought with it a host of problems that have the potential to negatively impact our society. Here are just a few of the issues that have been identified with social media:
1)Addiction: It’s easy to get caught up in the constant notifications and updates on social media, leading to an addiction that can be difficult to break. This can lead to people spending excessive amounts of time on these platforms, leading to a lack of productivity and a disconnection from the real world.
2)Cyberbullying: Social media has given bullies a new platform to target their victims, and it can be even more harmful because it can be done anonymously and the abuse can be seen by a wide audience. This can lead to severe emotional distress for the victim and can even lead to suicide in extreme cases.
3)Spread of misinformation: With the ease of sharing information on social media, it’s become easy for false or misleading information to spread quickly. This can lead to the spread of conspiracy theories and the promotion of harmful beliefs and behaviors.
4)Invasion of privacy: Social media platforms often collect a large amount of personal data from their users, which can be used for targeted advertising. However, this data can also be accessed by hackers, leading to privacy violations and identity theft.
5)Negative impact on mental health: The constant comparison to others on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can also lead to anxiety and depression.
While social media has brought many benefits and has connected us in ways that were previously unimaginable, it’s important to be aware of the potential negative consequences and to use these platforms responsibly.
5 Ways to Improve Your Social Media Experience.
If you’re looking to improve your social media experience, here are five things you can try:
1)Unfollow or mute accounts that no longer serve you. It’s easy to accumulate a long list of accounts that you follow, but over time, you may realize that some of them are no longer relevant or add value to your feed. Consider unfollowing or muting accounts that consistently post content that doesn’t interest you or that you find negative or toxic. This will help you curate a feed that is more in line with your interests and values.
2) Set limits on your social media use. It’s easy to get sucked into an endless scroll, but constantly being on social media can be draining and may lead to feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out). Consider setting limits on your social media use, either through built-in tools like the “Screen Time” feature on iOS or through third-party apps like Freedom or Cold Turkey.
3)Take breaks from social media. In addition to setting limits on your overall social media use, it can also be helpful to take regular breaks from the platforms altogether. This can be as simple as stepping away from your phone for an hour or two, or taking a full digital detox for a day or longer. Taking breaks allows you to disconnect and recharge, and may help you feel more present and grounded in the real world.
4)Engage with content that is meaningful to you. One of the best ways to improve your social media experience is to actively engage with content that is meaningful to you. This might mean commenting on posts, sharing articles or videos that interest you, or joining online communities or groups related to your hobbies or interests. By actively participating in the social media ecosystem, you can connect with like-minded people and find more fulfillment from your time spent on the platforms.
5)Use social media to create meaningful connections. While social media can sometimes feel superficial, it can also be a powerful tool for creating and maintaining meaningful connections. Reach out to friends and family members through direct message or video chat, or use the platform to connect with people you might not otherwise be able to stay in touch with. By using social media to foster genuine connection and communication, you can improve your overall social media experience.
By following these tips, you can make your social media experience more positive and fulfilling. Remember to be mindful of your time and energy, and to prioritize meaningful connections and engagement over mindless scrolling.
Thank you
yours
Hayasakite
Thanks for the insight and many good advices – you certainly seem to know a lot about social media and their impact on our lives.