Do we really need another social network?
When it comes to social networks, it seems that innovation is as hot as possible.
How else can we explain the fact that another "revolutionary" application is waiting for us soon, which will steal our precious free time?
Do the names Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger sound familiar? That's right; they are the founders of Instagram, who are now making a big comeback with Artifact - an app that will focus on content rather than social elements.
At least that is expected in the initial phase. The name "Artifact" combines the terms "articles," "facts," and "artificial intelligence," and on this social network, you will be able to follow the most diverse news displayed on your feed based on your interaction with it. Therefore, all the content that gets a click, like, or share from you will influence the content that will be further marketed to you.
Does this sound familiar, too? And this time you are right - this is exactly the algorithm that made TikTok not only the most popular but also the most influential social network today. Yes, you will follow what interests you, but an ultra-personalized experience on this platform will be guaranteed by machine learning and an algorithm that, as we now know, is proven to work.
On Artifact, you'll be able to follow a wide variety of content, from stories from major publishers like The New York Times to smaller blogs on specific topics. This will surely attract fans of quality and content that is not like what we see on currently popular social networks. And, of course, disillusioned Twitter users may also join the community. Although this story also sounds quite utopian, there is one potential problem. The application's tendency to select the content it will post, in order to avoid sources that spread falsehoods, can be interpreted as a kind of censorship. Even with the best possible intentions, censorship is not something that will be tolerated on any social network, and to a certain extent, it can pose a challenge to its functioning.
Artifact is currently in private beta and is working on creating a following feed and messaging (so there will still be some social elements). And if you really want to find out exactly what this is all about, you can sign up for the waiting list and be patient. Yes, there is a waiting list. All in all, it was an interesting experiment. Honestly, I can't wait to see if Systrom and Krieger apply any of what they've learned about developing Instagram, but also follow what's happening in the market and what the market really wants.
Text written for the Marketing mreža website by: Nikola Jagodić, Digital Marketing Specialist, Smartpoint Adria
Photo: Screenshot artifact.news