The Internet is becoming private

The internet is becoming more private. The threat of getting cancelled and better monetisation of content elsewhere. Means that people are getting jaded with public platforms. So, people are retreating into the private corners of the internet. Where the risk of problems is reduced. Places where the public are less likely to bring pitchforks. Social media companies are not promoting questionable content in the name of engagement. And creators having a closer connection with their audience.

Venkatesh Rao calls this the cosy web. 

Venkatesh Rao:

Unlike the main public internet, which runs on the (human) protocol of “users” clicking on links on public pages/apps maintained by “publishers”, the cozyweb works on the (human) protocol of everybody cutting-and-pasting bits of text, images, URLs, and screenshots across live streams. Much of this content is poorly addressable, poorly searchable, and very vulnerable to bitrot. It lives in a high-gatekeeping slum-like space comprising slacks, messaging apps, private groups, storage services like dropbox, and of course, email.

A popular medium article talking about the same phenomenon where the author called it the dark forest.

Yancey Strickler:

Imagine a dark forest at night. It’s deathly quiet. Nothing moves. Nothing stirs. This could lead one to assume that the forest is devoid of life. But of course, it’s not. The dark forest is full of life. It’s quiet because night is when the predators come out. To survive, the animals stay silent.

…

This is also what the internet is becoming: a dark forest.

In the article, Yancey Strickler states that darks forests are growing because it allows people to be themselves. He gave the example of himself where he felt most comfortable sharing the idea first on his email lists.

Dark forests like newsletters and podcasts are growing areas of activity. As are other dark forests, like Slack channels, private Instagrams, invite-only message boards, text groups, Snapchat, WeChat, and on and on. - Yancey Strickler

My analogy for all this is a simple storefront. Think of a public network like a storefront or a billboard. It is very flashy and loud to get the attention of passer-Byers. Now when you get into the store it is a lovely experience. The building feels cosy. And the staff are helpful. You may have a personal relationship with the owner. He also gives you special offers and treats. While outside people may think the store serves no interest to them. You are having a blast in the shop. Outside the shop, people are only trying the teasers. Where the shop hopes for the passer-by to buy-in.

Privacy

Private networks have more piracy. Due to them not being open to the public. Group texts are used in place of social media. As it’s a great service to connect with friends and family. Without a public audience watching. Or a social media company sharing your content to people you don’t know.

Patreon a service used for online creators to get money directly from their fans. Also creates a more private community. By a simple paywall. Creators can be more daring in their videos and provide exclusive content. Without the threat of losing monetisation on videos or the need to worry if their work is going to offend a select group of people.

With Patreon, you can see some YouTubers gaining more confidence. As they know if it’s a video that they feel is politically correct or the YouTube algorithm will not monetize the video. They know they publish it on their private community. For the audience to enjoy. While still on the YouTube platform creators will keep timid so the YouTube algorithm does not nuke their channel. As the YouTube recommender system is the most important marketing channels for YouTube. Like a store having there mass adverting as safe. Not to be banned by adverting companies.

Email lists

A growing network promoting more private communities are email lists. Emails are not owned by one platform. So, a company can’t ban you from sending emails by breaking terms of service. Emails are normally free. And the writers of the newsletter sent exclusive content over email. That has less of them risk getting them cancelled. Increasing there are some newsletters that you have to pay for. This is due to a service called Substack. Which allows writers to charge for their email list. It works like a magazine. The reader pays a monthly or yearly fee to access the newsletter. Like Patreon, this helps writers create content without falling into the algorithm adverts model.

Writers can decide on having some of their issues free. Normally used as a preview for the newsletter. Or the writer can mainly produce free content but have exclusive content under a paywall.

Free content is the storefront

Back to the storefront analogy. Free content produced on public networks is the storefront. Private networks paid or otherwise is like you are inside the store picking the products. For paid services like Substack and patron the quality will tend to be better and they more focused on making a small audience happy. And avoiding the algorithm hamster wheel. When checking up the individual items in the shop. It's like getting the exclusive backlog of the creator. Participating in Q&As is like talking directly to the store manager. Talking the exclusive items in the shop. And goals and plans of the business.

Wellbeing on social media

The vibe in these private networks tends to be calmer. As algorithms trying to drive engagement. Which tend to promote negative emotions and anger and resentment. In the dark forest article.  The author pointed towards a paradox. Where if you leave the mainstream networks will decrease it in quality. Even if your experience of the internet improves. As lots of other people will still be using public networks. And if the less savoury characters say the quality will not improve.

The meaning and tone of these platforms changes with who uses them. What kind of bowling alley it is depends on who goes there. - Yancey Strickler

People will always want to use public networks. But people will be spending less time on these services. Which is probably not good for the tech companies, money-wise. In Cal Newport’s book digital minimalism. Cal Newport recommends only using social media of features that you find useful. Not the newsfeed. Like the example, I mentioned earlier of talking to friends and family via group chat rather than Facebook.