Let’s Make Social Media Social Again

Reclaiming Meaningful Connection in the Age of Algorithms

Once upon a time, Facebook was about friends — sharing life updates, celebrating milestones, and keeping up with each other's daily wins and challenges. But in 2025, it’s more complicated than ever to find that content. Our feeds are now crowded with targeted ads, AI-generated posts, and recommendations from people we don’t know, all carefully engineered to maximize clicks, not connection. It's not just complicated, it's downright frustrating.

It’s time for a reset that brings back the essence of social media: the connection, the authenticity, and the human touch. This reset is not just wishful thinking; it's a necessity that can inspire a new era of social media.

The Algorithm Took Over

Over the past few years, Facebook has stopped showing us what our friends are up to. Instead, it now emphasizes discovery content — posts from strangers, pages we have never followed, and videos that rack up engagement regardless of relevance.

As reported by SFGate, Meta’s internal data reveals that only 17% of the average user’s time on Facebook is spent engaging with content from friends. The other 83% goes to ads, suggestions, and algorithmic distractions. That’s a massive shift away from social connection.

The Rise of AI-Generated Content

The rise of artificial intelligence further complicates the shift. In late 2024, Axios referenced that Meta began injecting AI-generated posts into feeds. These posts, often indistinguishable from human-generated content, are synthetic content designed to reflect users' interests. They might be optimized for clicks, but they lack the one thing most users originally came for: authenticity.

A More Human Way Forward

We can’t control the algorithm but can control how we respond to it. Here are five ways to take back your feed:

✅ Post Your Voice

Share thoughts, stories, or reflections — not just memes or trending videos. Let people hear you.

✅ Engage with Friends

Comment, like, or message when someone shares something meaningful. That’s how a real connection starts, and these interactions make social media truly social.

✅ Use the “Feeds” Tab

Switch to Facebook's Feeds view to see only friends, groups, and followed pages. This feature filters out recommendations and ads, allowing you to focus on the content that matters most.

✅ Tell the Algorithm What You Don’t Like

Hide or report irrelevant posts and ads. The more you tune it, the more it (slowly) improves.

✅ Scroll with Intention

If you're swiping out of habit, stop. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, take the time to read, react, and reflect on the content you encounter. This mindful approach is better for your network and attention span.

Final Thought

Social media doesn’t have to be a digital billboard. It can still be a digital porch for conversation, community, and connection. The potential for authentic connection is still there, waiting to be reclaimed.

But that only happens if we use it that way.

Let’s make social media social again. 👥

📌 Wade Hyde is a marketing professor at Dallas College, passionate about relationship marketing, communication strategy, and restoring authenticity in digital spaces—more at wadehyde.com.

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