Source: Glasp
As algorithmic systems move from curation to generation—creating content tailored to individual attention spans and preferences rather than filtering shared content—they fragment the cultural commons that historically bound audiences together. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube approach a future where your feed contains no videos your friends will see, no shared reference points to discuss offline. The business model incentive (engagement maximization through perfect fit) directly contradicts the social incentive (shared culture as connective tissue), and platforms have shown no willingness to sacrifice the former for the latter.