The Surprising Connection Between Social Presence and Forgetting: How Facebook and Fortnite Are Shaping the Future of SNS

The Surprising Connection Between Social Presence and Forgetting: How Facebook and Fortnite Are Shaping the Future of SNS

In today's digital age, our lives are increasingly intertwined with social media platforms. From Facebook to Instagram, these platforms have become an integral part of our social interactions. However, as we delve into the history of social media, we begin to realize that there is more to it than meets the eye.

One of the key elements that determine the success of a social media platform is social presence. Users need to feel a sense of connection and engagement when using these services. Even in virtual reality (VR), where the sense of presence is maximized, existing social media platforms have managed to incorporate elements of presence. For example, LINE, a popular messaging app, considers the "read" status as a way to create a shared space among its users.

But social presence alone is not enough. This is where gaming comes into play. Games, such as Fortnite, offer a highly immersive and entertaining experience that goes beyond mere presence. The founders of Houseparty, a social networking app, recognized the discrepancy between the staged performances on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and the true essence of social interaction. They believed that social interactions should be more private and authentic.

This brings us to the idea that games may surpass existing social media platforms in the coming years. Gaming offers a unique opportunity to combine social presence with high-quality entertainment. As we witness the trend of apps consolidating into one central hub, the potential for games to become a major social platform is undeniable.

Now, let's shift our focus to the surprising benefits of forgetting. It may seem counterintuitive, but forgetting actually plays a crucial role in our cognitive abilities and decision-making processes. When we remember everything, it becomes harder to generalize, abstract, and filter information. We need the ability to forget in order to be more creative and make better decisions.

In terms of memory mechanics, our brains have three key regions: the save function in the hippocampus, the retrieve function in the prefrontal cortex, and the hard drive towards the back of the brain. Memories are distributed across these regions, and the strength of connections determines whether we remember or forget.

Forgetting allows us to see unexpected connections among key ideas, fostering creativity. It also prevents us from becoming overwhelmed by novelty, as everything would feel new and provoke anxiety. Those with autism often seek sameness as a way to cope with this constant novelty.

Moreover, forgetting is essential for emotional well-being. It allows us to let go of negative emotional memories and move forward. Exposure therapy, for example, taps into our forgetting mechanism to re-balance our memories and associate traumatic events with benign experiences.

Interestingly, people who claim to have a "bad memory" tend to make better decisions. Relying heavily on memory can lead to errors in decision-making, as individuals may overlook unknowns or fail to double-check information. Taking the time to ensure accuracy and knowing the unknowns is crucial for making informed decisions.

In conclusion, the future of social media lies in the convergence of social presence and immersive entertainment, with gaming potentially surpassing existing platforms. Additionally, the benefits of forgetting cannot be overlooked, as it allows for creativity, emotional well-being, and better decision-making.

Actionable Advice:

1. Embrace the merging of social presence and entertainment by exploring gaming platforms that offer social interaction.
2. Cultivate a healthy balance between remembering and forgetting. Allow yourself to let go of negative emotional memories and focus on the present moment.
3. Prioritize double-checking information and considering the unknowns before making important decisions. Avoid relying solely on memory and embrace a tortoise mindset.

Remember, the future is shaped by the connections we make and the information we retain, but it is also influenced by our ability to forget and let go.