I feel like there's a difference between interest-based forums and relationship-based social media. On Facebook, you follow your friends and then you hear from

I feel like there's a difference between interest-based forums and relationship-based social media. On Facebook, you follow your friends and then you hear from them (and their connections) on various topics ranging from the interesting to the mundane to the toxic, and it's that social nature -- the back and forth among friends and acquaintances -- that gives it staying power. You're there because your friends are there, no matter what's being discussed. On a forum like this (or Slashdot before it, or many subreddits) you don't necessarily care too much about who said something, just what topics are discussed. Yeah, maybe over time you'll start recognizing some of the names, but you're not really there for them. Just for the topics at hand. You're there because of the topics, whether or not you actually know anyone else there. These difference lead to various dynamics. Facebook tends to break friendships more often than not (politics), or encourage creepy stalky behavior (photos-first) or "creator" content. Topics-based forums are topic-first discussions around a few things, and the people and presentation matter less. But of course it's not that black and white... you have Twitter with both people and topics, 4chan with neither interesting people nor interesting topics, etc.