ellanetland

[ellanetland]

OpenAI Wants In: Can a Social Network Power the Future of AI?

A New Kind of Platform

OpenAI is reportedly developing its own social media network, according to The Verge and TechCrunch. The early-stage prototype centers on ChatGPT’s image-generation tools and includes a social feed for sharing and viewing AI-generated content. It’s still unclear whether the project will launch as a standalone app or be integrated into the ChatGPT platform, which recently became the most downloaded app globally.

But this move isn’t just about building a new product. As Social Media Today reported on April 15, 2025, OpenAI lacks the real-time data pipelines that competitors like X and Meta have through their existing social platforms. Creating its own network would give OpenAI a direct feed of user-generated content—something increasingly valuable as publishers place stricter limits on data scraping.

Training Data as Strategy

The idea of launching a social network reflects OpenAI’s broader strategic needs. Without reliable access to large-scale, real-time data, AI models risk becoming less accurate and less relevant. A platform built around user engagement with generative tools could create a self-sustaining feedback loop: users generate and share content, and OpenAI uses that content to train its models.

As CNBC notes, the company is responding to demand. Its latest image tools have gone viral across social platforms, overloading servers and sparking rapid user adoption. Offering a contained space for this activity would reduce friction and provide valuable training signals.

The platform would also deepen OpenAI’s independence at a time when its relationship with Elon Musk—and X’s data—has fractured. With Musk launching his own AI firm, xAI, and suing OpenAI over access and ownership issues, control over data is becoming a competitive necessity.

What This Means for the Social Media Sector

OpenAI’s entry into social media isn’t about connecting friends—it’s about securing information flows. Unlike traditional networks designed around community, this platform would exist primarily to fuel AI development.

For the social media sector, it’s a shift in priorities. Engagement is no longer the end goal; it’s the input. As more companies design platforms to optimize data collection rather than user experience, the definition of what a “social” platform is—and who it serves—may fundamentally change.

(Word Count: 365)

[ellanetland]

Bluesky’s Quiet Rise: Can Decentralization Win the Social Media Race

A Different Vision for Social Media

As the post-Twitter landscape continues to shift, Bluesky is steadily emerging as a serious alternative. While Threads boasts over 320 million monthly users and X (formerly Twitter) still claims 600 million, Bluesky has reached 35 million users as of April 2025, according to Social Media Today. While modest by comparison, it is significant for a platform positioning itself against the norms of Big Tech.

Originally funded by Jack Dorsey and now led by CEO Jay Graber, Bluesky operates on the AT Protocol–an open-source, decentralized framework that allows users to customize their feeds, port data between apps, and manage moderation independently.  As TechCrunch explains, this infrastructure poses a direct challenge to the centralized, ad-driven models that define the majority of the sector.

A Platform Built on User Trust

Bluesky’s user growth surged after controversial changes at X, including weakened block features and new terms allowing public posts to be used for AI training. The Verge notes that high-profile figures, such as Barack Obama, have since joined the platform. Others are drawn by Bluesky’s expanding features, including personalized feeds, emoji reactions in DMs, and a new “Explore” page that surfaces trending content without relying on opaque algorithms.

The platform’s open stance toward link sharing has also made it a favorite among publishers. The Boston Globe reports that Bluesky generates three times more traffic and over four times the subscription conversion rate compared to Threads, despite having a smaller user base. Unlike X, which suppresses outbound links, Bluesky encourages them—offering a rare opportunity for publishers to drive meaningful engagement without algorithmic interference.

Can Decentralization Scale?

Bluesky’s commitment to transparency and user control is refreshing—but it also comes with challenges. A 17x spike in moderation reports last year forced the company to expand its team and launch tools like Ozone, which lets users shape their own moderation experience. As the platform scales, maintaining safety without central oversight will be a major test.

Still, Bluesky doesn’t need to replace X or Threads to be relevant. As The New York Times’ Kevin Roose notes, it offers a version of social media that feels less extractive, less algorithmically manipulated, and more open-ended. That alone may be enough to ensure its place in the future of the sector.

(Word Count: 386)

[ellanetland]

Meta on Trial: The Case That Could Reshape Social Media

The antitrust trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission kicked off this week, marking a pivotal moment for the future of the social media business. At stake is whether Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were part of a strategy to eliminate competition and cement its monopoly power in personal social networking.

According to The Verge, the FTC argues that Meta’s “buy-or-bury” approach deprived consumers of better options and limited innovation. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is presiding over the case, which could result in the forced divestiture of Meta’s two most valuable platforms. Meta maintains the acquisitions were legal and says it faces strong competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Meta’s Market Power Under Scrutiny

As Social Media Today explains, the FTC has drawn a narrow definition of the market—centered on platforms used primarily to connect with friends and family—where Meta’s dominance is more difficult to dispute. Meta claims this framing is outdated and ignores the broader shift toward video-based discovery, news, and entertainment.

A chart from Statista shows that Facebook and Instagram together account for more than 50% of global social media ad revenue. This gives Meta a powerful edge in monetization, user data, and influence over how users interact with content and one another across its apps.

Instagram fuels Meta’s advertising revenue and cultural relevance, while WhatsApp dominates global messaging. As The New York Times notes, both platforms have grown significantly since their acquisition—making them central to Meta’s product ecosystem and user experience. Unwinding these deals would disrupt its cross-platform data strategy and weaken its ability to personalize content and ads—core elements of its value proposition.

What This Means for Meta and the Industry

With Meta investing heavily in generative AI and long-term metaverse ambitions, a breakup would slow innovation and force a shift from acquisition-driven growth to internal reinvention.

For the broader sector, the trial could redefine how platforms scale. A win for the FTC may push companies to prioritize product development over consolidation and show that retroactive enforcement is no longer off the table.

Whether or not Meta is forced to split, the outcome will reshape how power, growth, and competition are defined in the social media age.

(Word Count: 376)

[ellanetland]

Grok Jumps Platforms: X Brings Its AI Chatbot to Telegram

Elon Musk’s AI ambitions are going cross-platform. Grok, the “non-woke” alternative to chatGPT developed by xAI, integrated into X (formerly Twitter), is now available on Telegram for users subscribed to both X Premium and Telegram Premium. As reported by Social Media Today, the integration marks the first time Grok is accessible outside of X—and it signals a strategic shift in how Musk plans to scale both the bot and the platform’s broader AI identity.

The Telegram launch follows a major structural change: on March 31, Musk announced that xAI had officially acquired X, consolidating the two companies under one umbrella. As Technology Magazine notes, the deal aims to streamline development across data, infrastructure, and distribution. The move echoes similar consolidation strategies from major players like Microsoft (OpenAI) and Google (Gemini), where tighter integration between platforms and AI tools drives both innovation and user engagement.

Expanding AI, Expanding Reach

This rollout is part of a broader effort to normalize Grok as a central interface across X and beyond. Since launching in late 2023, Grok has been gradually embedded into X’s ecosystem—with features like sidebar chat access, highlight-to-search functions, and the ability to analyze account profiles, as reported by TechCrunch. These additions mimic how Google and Microsoft position their AI tools as always-on assistants, built into users’ daily workflows.

Yet despite the aggressive push, Grok faces an adoption problem. According to Appfigures, X’s in-app revenue declined for three consecutive months in early 2024, even as Grok expanded to mid-tier Premium subscribers. And cost may be a key factor. According to eMarketer, only 6% of U.S. smartphone owners are willing to pay for AI tools like Grok—while 45% say they won’t pay at all. That resistance could pose a challenge for Grok’s Telegram rollout, which requires subscriptions to both X Premium and Telegram Premium. With access gated behind two paywalls, adoption may be limited to a niche audience.

A Strategic Bet on AI Identity

By expanding to Telegram, X is betting that Grok’s utility can attract users beyond its home base. But the move also raises questions about scale, politics, and long-term viability. Can Grok succeed outside of X, or is it too entangled in Musk’s broader media ecosystem?

As social platforms continue to evolve into AI-powered environments, the Grok–Telegram rollout offers a glimpse at what’s coming next.

(Word Count: 386)

[ellanetland]

Will TikTok Survive in the U.S.? The Uncertain Future Ahead

On March 6, Social Media Today reported that TikTok has one month left to arrange a deal to continue operating in the U.S., yet no progress has been made. ByteDance has not entered negotiations with potential buyers, and the U.S. government has yet to appoint an official to oversee the process. With the deadline approaching, uncertainty looms over TikTok’s future.

Uncertainty Over the Deadline

According to Axios, confusion within the U.S. government has stalled negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was expected to lead discussions, but Vice President Vance has now taken over, leaving prospective buyers frustrated. Beijing has remained silent on whether it would approve a sale. While President Trump recently suggested he would "probably" extend the deadline, as reported by Forbes, there is no clear resolution in sight.

Chicago Booth Review highlights concerns about the impact of a TikTok ban on innovation. A panel of economic experts largely disagreed that a ban would positively affect U.S. technological advancement, with 69% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

Economic and Industry Impact

A TikTok ban would have significant economic repercussions. Forbes notes that small businesses relying on TikTok’s algorithm-driven discoverability could struggle, as no other platform offers the same organic reach. Additionally, content creators who built careers on TikTok could see their income streams vanish, disrupting the influencer marketing industry.

Global Edge emphasizes TikTok’s role in small business revenue and job creation, particularly in Europe. Removing TikTok from the U.S. market could trigger layoffs and declining ad revenue.

At the same time, Chicago Booth Review found that 54% of economic experts agreed that banning TikTok would likely benefit major U.S. tech companies, as competitors like Meta and YouTube absorb displaced users.

What’s Next?

The coming weeks will determine whether TikTok will be sold, banned, or left in regulatory limbo. If a ban is enacted, U.S. tech giants may benefit financially, but at the cost of reduced competition and innovation. Whatever the outcome, this debate will shape the future of digital media and global economic relations.

Word Count: 350

[ellanetland]

Meta’s Community Notes: A Shift in Moderation, or a Gateway to Misinformation?

Meta’s New Direction 

On February 20th, Meta published a new overview of how Community Notes will function, as reported by Social Media Today.  The initiative, modeled after X’s system, replaces third-party fact-checkers with a crowdsourced approach where approved contributors can flag misleading content and provide explanatory notes with reference links. Meta frames this shift as a step toward greater transparency and free expression, but questions remain about its ability to effectively combat misinformation.

The Reasons Behind the Change

Meta’s decision aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader push to simplify moderation, arguing that previous efforts led to excessive censorship and enforcement mistakes.  Meta’s official statement indicates a shift towards focusing on high-severity violations—such as terrorism, child exploitation, and fraud—while easing restrictions on political discourse. This shift also follows increased political pressure, particularly in the wake of the U.S. election, as noted by NBC News. Eliminating fact-checkers and reintroducing political content signals a more hands-off approach to moderation.

Challenges and Concerns 

While Community Notes is positioned as a collaborative fact-checking tool, its effectiveness is highly questionable. A key concern is the potential for bias and manipulation, as seen on X.  A report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that 73% of political Community Notes on X are never published due to the requirement for cross-ideological consensus. This suggests Meta’s system could similarly struggle to surface crucial corrections, allowing misinformation to persist

Experts cited by the BBC warn that crowdsourced moderation, while scalable, lacks the consistency of professional fact-checkers. Studies indicate over 90% of proposed notes in similar systems never get published, reducing their impact. Furthermore, organized groups have manipulated Community Notes on X to control narratives, raising concerns about exploitation on Meta’s platforms.

Research on social media engagement patterns suggests that controversial content approaching policy limits tends to see increased interaction before moderation.

Additionally, demographic data on social media news consumption reveals that different platforms attract varying political identities and age groups, which could impact how Community Notes function across Meta’s platforms.

The Uncertain Future 

While this approach may enhance user engagement and reduce moderation expenses, it risks creating echo chambers where misinformation thrives. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Meta's Community Notes can successfully balance free expression with the need for accurate and reliable information. Or, will it simply shift the burden of content moderation onto its users, with potentially harmful consequences?

Word Count: 398

[ellanetland]

A New Era for Meta Ads: The Advantage+ AI Revolution

The days of manual ad targeting on Meta are numbered. With the latest Advantage+ updates, the social media giant is doubling down on AI, forcing advertisers to embrace automation or risk falling behind. These sweeping changes, detailed in Social Media Today and analyzed by eMarketer , signal a pivotal moment for marketers navigating Meta's vast and influential advertising ecosystem.

The End of Manual Targeting  

Starting February 2025, Meta will remove manual audience and placement controls from Advantage+ catalog ads, forcing advertisers to rely on its AI systems. This reflects a broader trend:

As the eMarketer data shows, 57% of U.S. digital ad buyers now plan to use AI and machine learning products like Advantage+ and Google Performance Max for their media planning and buying, per an August 2024 eMarketer survey. This is second only to ad personalization (66%).

Key updates include:  

Advantage+ On” Label: A dashboard indicator showing when AI controls targeting, placements, and budgets (Social Media Today).

Rebranded Campaigns: “Advantage+ Shopping” becomes “Advantage+ Sales,” expanding eligibility for service-based businesses.  

Leads Campaign Automation: Early tests show Advantage+ reduces cost per qualified lead by 10% (Social Media Today).

Navigating the AI Revolution in Advertising

Meta reports that Advantage+ shopping campaigns grew 70% year-over-year in Q4 2024, driven by its Andromeda AI model, which improved ad quality by 8% through better personalization. However, the shift to automation isn’t seamless:  

Opportunity Score: A new 0-100 metric in Ads Manager offers real-time optimization tips. Early adopters saw a 5% median decrease in cost per result  (Social Media Today).

Mixed Results: While AI excels at finding overlooked audiences, some brands report inflated costs when Advantage+ prioritizes broad reach over precision.  

The tension reflects industry-wide growing pains. 62% of advertisers say generative AI for ads will be a 2025 priority, according to an IAB survey, but many fear losing creative control.  

AI and Advertising: A Brave New World?

Meta's embrace of AI in advertising raises crucial questions about the future of the industry. Can AI truly unlock new levels of performance and efficiency? Will it democratize access to sophisticated targeting, or will it further concentrate power in the hands of a few tech giants? And how will marketers balance the benefits of automation with the need to maintain creative control and brand safety? These are the questions that will shape the future of advertising as AI continues to transform the landscape.

(Word count: 395)

[ellanetland]

Hello

January 28th 2025

My sector is Social Media, and I will be following the New York Times, The Verge, and Social Media Today.