i think eventually we won't call follows 'follows'

everything will be so algorithmic that follows are just one data point that influences what you see. so a follow is more just a way of telling the algorithm that you like that person. but the concept of a follow-based feed on a public social media network is skeuomorphic to a pre-2020s internet. tiktok FYP was the catalyst

online social condenses to barbell strat: maximally private closed networks in the form of groupchats, and public algorithmic social media (everything else)