🚀 Is IG now a TikTok clone? Snapchat+ has strong start. One month ago, Snap launched Snapchat+ - a paid subscription to access features like seeing who rewatched a Story and “pinning” a BFF in your chats. Early data now suggests that Snapchat+ brought in $5M in revenue in its first month. We’re not sure exactly how many people subscribed (a monthly subscription is $3.99/mo, but there are also six and 12-month plans), but it’s an interesting data point for social apps studying the viability of paid subscriptions.

🚀 Is IG now a TikTok clone? Snapchat+ has strong start. One month ago, Snap launched Snapchat+ - a paid subscription to access features like seeing who rewatched a Story and “pinning” a BFF in your chats. Early data now suggests that Snapchat+ brought in $5M in revenue in its first month. We’re not sure exactly how many people subscribed (a monthly subscription is $3.99/mo, but there are also six and 12-month plans), but it’s an interesting data point for social apps studying the viability of paid subscriptions.

Proactive - the IG team has strong conviction that the future of social media is short-form video, delivered algorithmically. Reactive - IG is moving towards this new iteration because the old product has stopped working. Making the Feed more crowded made it harder to see your friends’ content. As a result, your friends got less engagement on their posts, and may have stopped posting as frequently - which forced Instagram to rely on more algorithmic content to fill your Feed. A competing theory is that Instagram is simply going out of style - and this would have happened with or without the algorithm.

"Goal-Setting Doesn’t Work. Here’s What Does." We should spend a lot more time thinking about these systems — even mapping them out and understanding our place within them — and less time talking about how to achieve the many socially derived goals that emerge from them. And the systems I’m referring to are systems of desire. The obsession with goal setting is misguided, even counterproductive. Setting goals isn’t bad. But when the focus is on how to set goals rather than how to choose them in the first place, goals can easily turn into instruments of self-flagellation.

But it’s worth asking where goals come from in the first place. Every goal is embedded within a system. “we don’t rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.” We can’t want something that is outside the system of desire we occupy. People set goals and make plans to arrive at a future point called “progress.” But will it be progress? Mimetic desire — the phenomenon of our wanting what other people want because they want it — is the unwritten, unacknowledged system behind visible goals.

First, let’s look at a few more examples of what I call mimetic systems of desire — places, where the desire to achieve certain things are to be a certain kind of person, are heavily influenced by what other people desire or have desired in the past. These systems are mimetic (which is another word for imitation) because everyone is unconsciously imitating the desires of the people around them or those who came before them. Students have lost sight of the teleology, or final purpose, of the education system. College is where the teleology grows even less clear. The VC demand for quick-hitting investments increases the attractiveness of tech start-ups to entrepreneurs. Social media platforms thrive on mimesis. Systems of desire, both positive and negative, are everywhere.

The first step toward freeing ourselves from the degrading slavery of being merely a child of our age (to paraphrase G.K. Chesterton) is to get the lay of the land — to step back, create distance from the systems of desire that we’re part of, and to try to see them for what they are. The answers are elusive without radical honesty about the systems of desire that are shaping us. Our most pressing problems are problems of desire. We can’t want that which we’ve never seen or heard, or that which lies outside of the world that we live in, unless we’ve stopped believing that the universe of desire ends at whatever shore we happen to be standing on.

It means falling in love with a better version of the future. It starts with not growing complacent in the systems of desire that we’re in. First, we have to see them. The power of conformity is well-known in the realm of ideas, but far more powerful in the realm of desire. We want what other people want because there’s comfort in knowing that someone else is pursuing the same thing that we are. Yet the idea that I want to run a marathon at all is the more interesting thing. Where did I get it in the first place? If you understand the systems of desire that color the choices of people around you, you’re more likely to see emergent possibilities by daring to look in different directions.

From the above content, we can observe two main themes - the evolution of social media platforms and the influence of mimetic desire on goal-setting. While seemingly unrelated, these topics share a common thread - the impact of societal trends and the need for individuals to understand and navigate these systems.

The first part discusses the shift in social media platforms, specifically focusing on the introduction of Snapchat+ and Instagram's move towards short-form video content. This highlights the proactive nature of social app developers in adapting to changing user preferences. The introduction of paid subscriptions and algorithmic content delivery demonstrates the efforts to monetize and enhance user experiences. Additionally, it raises questions about the future of Instagram and whether it may be losing its popularity regardless of algorithmic changes.

The second part delves into the concept of goal-setting and its relationship with systems of desire. It challenges the notion that setting goals alone is sufficient for personal growth and success. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying systems that shape our desires and choices. Mimetic desire, the tendency to want what others want, is identified as a significant influence on goal-setting. By recognizing and questioning these systems, individuals can gain a clearer perspective and find alternative paths to personal fulfillment.

In conclusion, both the evolution of social media platforms and the impact of mimetic desire on goal-setting highlight the need for individuals to be aware of the systems they operate within. To navigate these systems effectively, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Reflect on personal desires: Take the time to evaluate your goals and desires critically. Consider whether they are influenced by external factors or if they genuinely align with your values and aspirations.

2. Diversify your perspective: Challenge the influence of mimetic desire by seeking out alternative viewpoints and exploring different paths. This can open up new possibilities and prevent conformity to societal norms.

3. Embrace change: Stay adaptable and open to evolving trends and technologies. As social media platforms continue to evolve, be willing to experiment with new features and experiences to enhance your online interactions.

By understanding the systems at play and taking proactive steps to shape our desires, we can chart a more fulfilling path towards personal growth and success.