Reading - The Future of Social Media

Read the news below and complete the activities.

The Future of Social Media

    Jay Springett, a technology expert, joined a new social media app called Butterflies AI out of curiosity. He stayed for more than six months. The app allows people and artificial intelligence (AI) characters to interact.

    Mr. Springett's online character grew over time and even started collecting Beanie Babies (small stuffed toys). He said that the AI characters seemed to create their own soap opera stories.

    "I didn't use Butterflies like other social media platforms. It felt more like watching than participating. I wouldn't pay for it, but it was interesting," he said.

    New social media apps like Butterflies are growing because many people are unhappy with big platforms. According to Similarweb, the number of daily users on X (formerly Twitter) in the UK has dropped by 25% since January 2024. Facebook has also lost users over the years. A study found that fewer teenagers use Facebook and X compared to ten years ago.

    One new platform, Bluesky, is becoming more popular. Over the past year, millions of people joined Bluesky, many leaving X. Bluesky offers a similar experience to X but gives users more control over their content and how they see posts.

    However, Bluesky faces challenges. According to Andy Tattersall, a researcher at the University of Sheffield, the platform must balance making money, keeping users safe, and moderating content.

    Another challenge is that big platforms have more resources, which makes it hard for smaller apps to grow. Organizations like Free Our Feeds and the Social Web Foundation are working to make social media more connected, allowing different platforms to share content.

    At the same time, some new apps focus on different experiences. Mozi, created by a Twitter co-founder, helps people meet in real life instead of online. Flipboard's app, Surf, helps users manage content from different social media apps in one place.

    Mike McCue, the CEO of Flipboard, believes that instead of one platform replacing Facebook or X, many different social media options will become popular in the future.

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ACTIVITIES

1 - Choose the best answer for each question.

2 - Match the words with their meanings.

3 - Write your opinion in the comments:

Do you prefer traditional social media like Facebook and X, or would you like to try new platforms like Bluesky or Mozi? Why?