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Discord is 100% social media. Just like WhatsApp. MSN definitely was, remember MSN Groups? MSN Chat (the IRC knock off), and a bunch of other things. As someone

Discord is 100% social media. Just like WhatsApp. MSN definitely was, remember MSN Groups? MSN Chat (the IRC knock off), and a bunch of other things. As someone who has consumed social media and chat platforms, I will note that most chat platforms are social media in their own regard. Habbo Hotel is another example of social media. :)

iso1631 10mo ago
Is SMS social media?
- smlavine 10mo ago
  No, it is a protocol that allows a user to create their own social network within their Messaging app.
  - atiedebee 10mo ago
    Wait, how is that different from WhatsApp?
  - Bratmon 10mo ago
    How is that different from Discord?
  - vlad-roundabout 10mo ago
    Next you will say that somehow iMessage isn't social media, but WhatsApp is.
joe_mamba 10mo ago
> Just like WhatsApp. Sorry but I don't consider WhatsApp to be in the social media category since it's just a chat app for your contacts, not an A/B algorithmically driven carousel of media to keep you hooked in and for strangers to hit you up (unless they have your phone number). However I do think Meta will try to slowly make it a social media app.
- WA 10mo ago
  Kids in 5th grade use WhatsApp for entertainment to send hundreds of messages per day filled with memes and slop. From the perspective of one kid in a class chat, this is indistinguishable from an algorithmically curated feed.
  - joe_mamba 10mo ago
    > this is indistinguishable from an algorithmically curated feed If a classmate is sending you slop memes, then it's human curated content from an acquaintance, and not algorithmically driven, unless you consider your friends bots.
    - robot-wrangler 10mo ago
      Is it? If kids grab the top result of a massively A/B tested algorithmic feed trying hook people and/or maximize the controversy / engagement, then arbitrage it onto another simpler less gamified platform... is that really human curated? There's some truth to the idea that, as long as there is any social media, everything is social media.
- giancarlostoro 10mo ago
  It's not just for your contacts though, in other countries WhatsApp is used like Facebook pages for your local town too. There's all sorts of group chats on WhatsApp.

iso1631 10mo ago

Is SMS social media?

smlavine 10mo ago
No, it is a protocol that allows a user to create their own social network within their Messaging app.
- atiedebee 10mo ago
  Wait, how is that different from WhatsApp?
- Bratmon 10mo ago
  How is that different from Discord?
- vlad-roundabout 10mo ago
  Next you will say that somehow iMessage isn't social media, but WhatsApp is.

joe_mamba 10mo ago

> Just like WhatsApp. Sorry but I don't consider WhatsApp to be in the social media category since it's just a chat app for your contacts, not an A/B algorithmically driven carousel of media to keep you hooked in and for strangers to hit you up (unless they have your phone number). However I do think Meta will try to slowly make it a social media app.

WA 10mo ago
Kids in 5th grade use WhatsApp for entertainment to send hundreds of messages per day filled with memes and slop. From the perspective of one kid in a class chat, this is indistinguishable from an algorithmically curated feed.
- joe_mamba 10mo ago
  > this is indistinguishable from an algorithmically curated feed If a classmate is sending you slop memes, then it's human curated content from an acquaintance, and not algorithmically driven, unless you consider your friends bots.
  - robot-wrangler 10mo ago
    Is it? If kids grab the top result of a massively A/B tested algorithmic feed trying hook people and/or maximize the controversy / engagement, then arbitrage it onto another simpler less gamified platform... is that really human curated? There's some truth to the idea that, as long as there is any social media, everything is social media.
giancarlostoro 10mo ago
It's not just for your contacts though, in other countries WhatsApp is used like Facebook pages for your local town too. There's all sorts of group chats on WhatsApp.