These days, social media platforms aim to increase the time you spend interacting with their algorithm. Targeted ads and push notifications keep you invested and active on the medium. As a result, you spend a lot of time on social media sites, which can lead to more social engagement. However, there is a downside to this engagement. Social media addiction, FOMO and envy towards others can be caused by exposure online. How do we move away from the noisy and demanding, neverending cycle of content?
What is it?
Arebyte gallery in London commissioned Minus: a social network which allows you only 100 posts. For life. You can comment endlessly though. If you reach the maximum of posts, you cannot post anything anymore. It really is that simple.
The maker, Ben Grosser wanted to make a social platform that was different. Grosser designed for less. The algorithm does not stimulate you to use it more and there are no annoying, pushy notifications to keep you engaged. The timestamps of Minus are also vague and state things like: a while ago. You can see how many posts each user has left still. Grosser states that just like life, Minus has limits. Ben is curious about what users will post if they have only 100 posts in a lifetime.
Grosser works on a variety of projects with which he wants to question our relationship with software and show how it influences human behaviour.
Why is it cool?
Minus is drastically different from mainstream social media. Rather than going for more -money, interaction and posts- they go for less. Being able to post less makes you think more carefully about what is important to you. Much like in times of crisis, limitations result in a journey of self-discovery and going back to the basics. Minus removes all the noise which leaves you time to reconsider the value of sharing.
Besides providing insight, the platform also goes against always being able to do whatever you want at any given moment in time. Therefore, it is more realistic. Being able to make decisions all the time is a luxury. Removing that luxury makes you aware of the privilege you have. Restricting yourself on purpose shows you can battle the hedonistic, but logical nature of instant gratification.
Why does it have future potential?
Every movement has a countermovement. While the prevalence of mobile devices and social sites is indispensable in society, some people start to experience the downsides of the addicting online world. Lately, there has been a shift starting that is all about the mindful consumption of media content. Many people switch to more realistic apps like BeReal (where you need to take a picture at a random time every day) set app timers or even stop using social media or phones at all. This transition is a response to the extremely digitalized world we live in and shows we are trying to find a balance that suits us.
In the future, thinking about the consumption of social media and digital content will likely become more normal. Minus brings us one step closer to a healthier relationship with the online world and can connect us to ourselves and others.
What would you post if you had only 100 posts in your life?
Sources:
minus.social
bengrosser.com
Cover photo from Unsplash.com
