Social Media: Facebook Takes a Tumble
Since I was around nine or ten years old, I've been an avid internet user. My time online started in teen-centered virtual worlds like Meez and WeeWorld, and funny enough, my first social media profile was on Facebook. However, social media has changed in the years since I joined; new platforms have come around, allowing users to express themselves in new ways. So how do some social media networks compare when it comes to user-friendliness and personalization?
Founded in 2007, Tumblr is a social media platform for microblogging that allows users to share a variety of content ranging from long-form writing to short-form text posts and much more. I can’t lie; Tumblr is my favorite platform, and it seems to be making a comeback. It’s easy to use, your blog is entirely customizable, and it feels more personal in comparison to other platforms. When I log in, my dashboard isn’t clouded with spam, suggested posts from people I don’t follow, and discourse. There are three tabs: Following, For You, and Tags which organize posts in your feed by who you follow, suggested posts based on what you like, and the hashtags you follow (such as for a favorite TV show or musician), rather than it all being on one page.
The ask box and submission box are two features that I personally find amazing about Tumblr. You can let anonymous users send you questions and comments, or turn off the anonymity to limit negativity if needed. The submission box gives your followers the ability to submit posts to your blog for publication, allowing users a unique way to collaborate.
It’s also incredibly easy to reach out to people on Tumblr with the messaging system being accessible in-app. I’ve made a lot of friends through Tumblr in my life, some of which I still talk to today. There's a sense of community on that website that I haven’t found on any other in a long time. I’ve always been able to be strange and annoying out in the open on Tumblr, and as other platforms became more centered on perfection, Tumblr hasn’t lost that sparkle to me. It’s just an all-around great website, so much so that it even has its own aesthetic (one that still takes up 95% of my closet space).
Facebook, on the other hand, is a social media website that I can’t get back into. Founded in 2004, Facebook is a platform that, like many others, intends to connect people through posting and messaging. When I was younger, it was fun to see what everyone was sharing from my school, who was getting into fights, and what the newest meme was. Today though, my newsfeed is overrun by people and brands I don’t know and don’t follow. I only see a friend’s content once every five to ten posts.
The website’s design is also overwhelming with something happening on every inch of the screen. Trying to change your settings on the app feels tricky when the gray privacy, support, and settings drop-downs are tucked between columns of buttons with colorful emojis. Not to mention the massive AI post issue that Facebook has been having lately. A ton of my newsfeed is fake, and it’s a little scary to see people falling for those posts.
Ultimately, every social media platform has its charms and flaws, it just depends on what you’re looking for. As I get older, I find myself enjoying apps like Tumblr, Pinterest, and Substack more. I feel less overwhelmed, making it easier for me to focus on subjects I love and get inspired. However, I’ll still be around on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) so I don’t miss the important moments that my family and friends share. It would be nice though if we could all just go back to the virtual world of Club Penguin.
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