UPDATE: i added this to the tumblr version of this post for the tumblr-users who might need to hear it, but here i'll let the cohosties read it too:
I'll resist the urge to keep adding additional thoughts to this but here's the one other thing I want to say.
There is no evidence, currently, that "social media" as an invention and a product is financially sustainable. Different companies can attempt to keep the ball in the air by showing ads or by selling off private data, but the actual product itself of "social media" is not a financially sustainable thing that exists.
The reason I say this is because unless someone out there is willing to inject millions of dollars into it...these platforms will probably come and go. And sadly, there is nothing that users can do from a user behavior standpoint to "keep the platform alive" in a way that will lead to sustainability unless a large percentage of users are willing to pay a subscription.
What you should do is socialize and share stuff in a way that brings more to your life and to the lives of people you care about. If you want to support a creator and share their work, you should do that. Above all else you should give your attention and time and love in doses that are sustainable for you, and that forge meaningful connections between you and other people.
Unlike "computers" or "the light bulb", I think there is a very real possibility that platforms like Tumblr, Twitter, etc. will not exist 10 years from now. That will never, ever be the fault of the regular users. It's completely out of our hands. It would never be the fault of someone only using Likes instead of Reblogs.
