Craig Mod on using social networks for their strengths
Craig Mod, in a footnote of the post announcing his newsletter Huh:
So my general philosophy of these social networks is to lean into what they do well — a bit of distribution, a bit of playfulness — and don’t kill yourself trying to make them do things for which they aren’t designed.
I am angry at Instagram. I wish they never sold to Facebook. I wish they were about sharing photos and not about ripping off Tiktok w/ Reels. But those ships have long since sailed and I need to get over it. I need to use Instagram for what it is good at – distribution (this word sounds icky, but really it is about being able to communicate with the broader photography community even if I don’t have many relationships within it) – and use my web site for everything else.
@cdevroe So true, Colin! I’m using Twitter as a POSSE platform for my benefit instead of theirs.
@cdevroe Craig is the master of using platforms to do his own thing.
@gregmoore I see that.
@peterimoore Twitter is my drug of choice, I have to say. I get so much value out of it.
@cdevroe I wish I could say I got value out of it, but I only got stress. 😂
@cdevroe Broadcast tools. Tools. Not even reliable ones; so treat them accordingly.
@cdevroe i think as soon as the Instagram founders left, because they couldn’t stand Zuckerberg anymore, there was nothing to stop Zuckerberg from changing Instagram to fit his needs. I remember reading an article in the past that part of the deal with Instagram was that they were going to be left to their own devices. As Instagram slowly became more popular than FB, Zuckerberg was annoyed and wanted to reign in Instagram. Soon enough the founders left and Instagram came fully under Facebook’s control.
I use Instagram as a curated feed for cars. I still have not found any site, other than Speedhunters, that delivers amazing car culture/motorsport photos. I haven’t posted in awhile now.
I think you’re right. The founders of Instagram leaving the company was definitely the death knell for me too. Kevin and Mike were excellent product people. The current batch of people, and their incentives, aren’t aligned with what I want from a photo sharing app. That being said, they are very likely very good at their jobs.