A Modern Fable about Social Media with Meta as the Protagonist, 2040’s Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 80

Issue 80, Nov 3, 2022

Over the past 18 years, social media has become a way for organizations to market their products and services. It has also enabled society at large to remove physical borders to connect, express their thoughts and opinions, and share the events of their day-to-day lives. Social media offers efficiency and immediacy in a highly-connected world. Before the internet, connecting took time — whether in person, writing letters, telegrams or via the antiquated rotary phone. Today, a post, tweet or the like can be seen by many at the same time, removing the need to interact with each individual separately. A positive by-product of the efficiency of social media is the ability to engage with many when we are time-pressed and victims of overcommunication.

When social started, the shift was radical to many but was also quickly adopted a…