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Behind the scenes wars between social media... but who is the final winner?
In the social media arena, conflict and competition are evident on a daily basis between tech giants. Such as Twitter "X", which transmits world news to us in short tweets, Facebook, which has become an arena through which we share the moments of our lives, Instagram, the colorful window on the world of beauty and creativity, and of course TikTok, which conquered the hearts of young people with its short and innovative videos.
Each platform offers us a unique experience, and strives to be the best and most prominent in this fast-paced world. With every update and innovation, hidden conflicts and problems arise between social media. What are the causes of these conflicts? And which of these platforms will occupy the throne in the future?
Causes of conflict between social media platforms
The conflict began between the different communication platforms with the aim of attracting the largest number of followers, by focusing on providing more features to attract the approval of the largest number of users, and their continued presence and interaction more than the rest of the competing platforms. The main goal is to create an unparalleled experience that makes the user spend more of their time, but in this quest, points of friction and collision appear. But what are the main points of contention?
Usage and Privacy Policy
Usage and privacy policy are among the most important things that concern users in general, in order to enjoy safe browsing and use, away from the negative impact that the use of social media platforms may generate, whether from a social or psychological point of view, resulting from harmful content or wrong interaction by critics of some of the ideas presented in the discussions and specific topics.
After the scandals raised by some platforms regarding privacy violations, users are becoming more careful. For example, the events of the Cambridge Analytica scandal with Facebook changed the perception of the security of personal information.
content quality
Communication platforms seek to focus first on the quality of the content, that is, what is allowed and what is not allowed to be published by users. Anything related to violence, racism and fraud is undoubtedly unacceptable. The more firm the platform's usage policy in dealing with these cases, it will have greater preference by users and their use will inevitably last for a longer period. Twitter "X", for example, has been criticized for not acting quickly against accounts that promote fake news.
Social Responsibility
The ability to report any abuses that occur, such as reporting offensive posts or obstructions, has a great impact on safer dealings. Where the violating content of any kind, post - photo or video, is deleted with a warning to its owner to suspend or delete the account in the event of repeated violations. Penalties may amount to legal accountability in the event of personal exposure, whether by defamation, threatening or publishing information and personal data without prior permission from the person concerned or concerned with this information.
It is important to understand that these platforms are not just means of entertainment, but rather have a profound impact on the social and psychological reality of users. Such as the incident of the attacks on the US Congress at the beginning of 2021 and the role that some platforms played in fueling matters highlights this impact.
Conflict factors between social media platforms
Social media is the great global marketplace for ideas, conversations, and news. However, these platforms, despite their great benefits, have become the scene of some problems that have caused great disputes and unrest:
The vastness and abundance of information
The sheer volume of information increases the likelihood that it will not be entirely accurate or reliable. The spread of false news and rumors found an ideal environment on the means of communication, due to its rapid spread on the one hand, and the possibility of being easily believed even before verifying its accuracy and validity on the other hand.
Since many users consider social media to be the main source of news and information, most of these people are unable to distinguish between true and false content, with no evidence to confirm or deny any news that is published and shared. Manipulating public opinion is one of the most serious challenges faced by social media. Communication in light of the rapid spread of misconceptions and the difficulty of controlling them.
Lack of respect for privacy
The issue of trust and safety is one of the things that most concern account holders on the means of communication of all kinds. Hacking any account is possible and on any application, which may expose the owners of these accounts to blackmail and exploitation by bad people who are able to penetrate and leak any information of others.
Bullying and disrespect for others
This is represented by the negative and hostile comments by which any person is attacked simply because of disagreement with him, and this of course leaves bad psychological effects, especially among the younger groups of youth. Which may generate disputes and conflicts and create a kind of tension and hatred between people, whether within the same community or at the global level.
Does the user benefit from these wars or suffer from them?
In light of the social media rivalry, users are both spectators and victims. On the one hand, these platforms are constantly offering them new and innovative features in a relentless pursuit to win their loyalty such as user interface improvements, new features, and advanced privacy protection. Which is beneficial for users.
On the other hand, however, there are subtle strikes. Data espionage, increased advertising, and the targeting of ideas and behaviors for commercial or political purposes can be alarming and threatening to users. So the most important question arises: Are we, as users, mere pawns in this great digital battle?
Looks like the user is the last winner!
In the field of digital competition, where social media platforms wrestle in a relentless race, questions arise about the identity of the real winner. Each platform has its strengths and loyal audience, but will this situation continue to exist? While some platforms can benefit from the mistakes made by their competitors and enhance their position, there are those who bet on innovation and providing a distinguished user experience.
However, in this complex battle, the real winner may be the user himself, who benefits from this fierce competition. Thanks to these conflicts, platforms tend to put their best foot forward, improve user experience, and enhance protection and privacy. While competition may continue, we must always remember that the true development and success of any platform is measured by its ability to serve its users and meet their expectations.