Small social will become big

While some of us are stuck in the mud at 🔥 Burning Man, I’m typing this from sunny Amsterdam 🇳🇱. Today’s newsletter contains my thoughts about the future of social apps, which should be social. I believe (niche) communities will spike, and we will flock back to more private lives instead of sharing everything on social media with strangers.

Also, suppose you’re struggling with future career decisions. In that case, I end this newsletter with a simple framework (Build/Sell/Understand) to decide what role you want in a business with some practical examples.

Enjoy reading; the next one comes on Friday!

Bas

📱 Small social will become big

Ever since I’ve been connected to the internet (+- 2001), I’ve been addicted. When I was a 12-year-old teenager going to high school, I was designing and selling websites for people I found online on a Dutch forum. I made a few hundred a month with my sidekick and had to show my bank account statement to my parents to prove I wasn’t doing any shady shit to make money.

These online communities gave me a feeling of belonging; meanwhile, I was developing myself with something I loved. I wasn’t the best, but was better than average during the early days. It also felt like I was part of the frontrunners of the internet community and that we helped each other with tips, tricks, and tutorials on becoming a better designer.

Fast forward to today, I miss being part of a community. I’m active on X (Twitter) and occasionally follow some topics I’m interested in on Reddit. I haven’t logged in to my Facebook account for years. I deactivated my Instagram account somewhere last year and never felt the TikTok fear of missing out. I understand why people use these apps, but they aren’t social, right? The endless scrolling would arguably make you feel lonelier.

I feel times will change. With the entire world divided into pieces, people lack a feeling of belonging. People want to be part of a small community with something that ties them together. A topic or shared hobby that unites. A place where you can share your stories, learn from each other, and come to seek inspiration. Whether you’re into politics, a particular sport, or looking for a place to discuss climate change.