'WT Social' originally launched as WikiTribune in 2017 with the intention of being an academic journalistic website but has now evolved into a user-first social media service. WT Media strives to be the 'opposite of Facebook' by being the most respectful of its users as it can. WT Social is a user-funded platform that does not run advertisements and does not collect or sell user data. On top of this, paying is optional for users, as they can simply use the service for free.
WT Social does not use algorithmically-generated media feeds because it does not collect a digital biography on its users. All of the content viewed on this website is generated through a set of interests that users volunteer about themselves. If users ever want to retract this information or remove their account, the associated data is deleted on the backend.
The best part about this service is that it has kept its original goal of academic integrity. WT Social requires that news articles posted on its platform are cited with sources. WT Social is combatting 'outrage journalism' and taking a stance against misleading content bubbles.
User-First Social Media Platforms
Social Media Platform 'WT Social' Does Not Track or Sell Data
Trend Themes
1. User-funded Social Media - There is an opportunity for businesses to create user-funded social media platforms that do not rely on advertisement and can prioritize users over profits.
2. Algorithm-free Social Media - There is an opportunity to create social media platforms that do not use algorithmically-generated media feeds and collect minimal user data.
3. Academic Integrity on Social Media - There is an opportunity to create social media platforms that require news articles to be cited with sources and combat 'outrage journalism' and misleading content.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Existing social media companies can take a cue from WT Social and prioritize their users more by limiting data collection and reducing advertisement on the platform.
2. Journalism - Journalism organizations can explore partnerships or create their own social media platforms that prioritize academic integrity and combatting misleading content.
3. Tech Startups - Tech startups have an opportunity to disrupt the social media industry by creating new user-funded and algorithm-free social media platforms with a focus on user privacy and integrity.