The rise of social media has become one of the most problematic historical developments. While Big Tech companies have brought a never-before-seen level of connectivity to the world, they have also contributed to major crises, including the loneliness epidemic.
Over five billion people currently use social media, and the number of active users is only expected to increase. Why is this a problem? In addition to helping users stay in touch with friends and family, social media can be a driver of serious mental health concerns, fake news, and toxicity. An estimated 210 million people worldwide are addicted to social media and young people are the most vulnerable. Teens who spend five to seven hours daily on their smartphones are twice as likely to report depressive symptoms.
Although many people use social media despite their complicated relationship with it, young people are moving away from living ‘chronically online’. Gen Z, who are well-known for their love of technology, are leaving social media. A study revealed that one-fifth of 18-24 year olds have deactivated their social media accounts and one-third are limiting their screen time. This is mainly due to concerns about data usage and platforms’ impact on well-being. Young people don’t trust tech companies both with their data and to protect users online. As platforms have developed–and even become tools for spreading misinformation–it’s understandable why youth are losing their trust in Silicon Valley.
Yet, the question still remains: Without social media, what is the future of human connection? The short response is that communication will never stop existing, even if our tools for initiating conversations change. However, it’s important to consider how digital infrastructure shapes how people connect socially. Christopher Schlaeffer and James Ellis-Reeves, the co-founders of NYOUM, a London-based technology company that has released a generative AI communications platform, have unique insights to share on this phenomenon.
Schlaeffer is a prominent European tech entrepreneur who was part of the first launch of an Android phone in 2008 and partnered with other Big Tech players during that time. Like many other tech enthusiasts, he saw these events as groundbreaking innovations that would improve the world. In most cases, these products positively impacted society, but in other circumstances, unexpected consequences revealed themselves.
Ellis-Reeves has a similar outlook on the tech and social media landscape due to his background in software engineering. Social media as a concept has held great potential to be beneficial for society, but it has realistically become an uncharted territory where anything goes.
Schlaeffer notes that since communication and media converged to form social media, a new model is needed. Prior to the development of these platforms, media was regulated and communication channels were highly protected. In the modern age where DMs are used for sending credit card details and FYPs are full of user-generated media, content moderation has become a serious concern. Both of NYOUM’s founders aim to disrupt the idea of traditional social media with a platform designed for self-liberation. YOUM is a generative AI communications platform that is the antagonist of social media. The futuristic platform is for friends only and has no followers, no likes, and no fakes. YOUM’s mission is to provide users with the infrastructure necessary for building strong digital connections. The platform makes this possible by putting “you and me” at the centre of everything, in multi-mode and multi-media.
Outside of its cutting-edge, privacy-first features such as in-device AI and a user compensation advertising structure, YOUM is reshaping the future of human connections. The platform cuts through Big Tech’s hold on social media by providing a new space specifically made for authentic, long-lasting relationships.
YOUM was founded in 2018 when Schlaeffer and Ellis-Reeves became determined to bring back internet inclusivity and democratisation. The co-founders are confident in YOUM’s ability to replace social media because of its next-generation features and transparency. “In the next five years, YOUM’s ownership will be transferred from investors to users in a single transaction,” says Schlaeffer. “As long as the platform builds an audience of at least 100 million daily active users (DAU), YOUM will be the first to reenvision who a communications platform should serve, and take action aligning with those principles.”
In the coming years, research will continue highlighting social media’s negative impacts. These findings should inspire immediate action that is critical for mitigating the mental health crisis and other social issues caused by these platforms. However, humans can still enjoy the convenience and entertainment of digital connections through YOUM. The platform has been launched globally on iOS and Android across 160 countries in 49 languages. YOUM hopes to be the catalyst for a mass exodus from social media. As more users abandon the toxicity of Big Tech platforms for YOUM’s ethics and privacy, the company hopes to see society regain control over their self-expression.
Media Contact: Christopher Schlaeffer
Email: [email protected]
