Am I one that’s noticing a change in social media?
In a surprising twist in the ever-evolving landscape of social media, a new trend is emerging that seems to be doing the unthinkable: dethroning video content.
“Notes” or text-based posts are not just making a comeback, but they are flourishing and, interestingly, overshadowing video content on various platforms. We see this on:
Substack — Note feature
Meta — Threads
X(previously Twitter)
LinkedIn Post
The growing demand for notes is speculated(in my opinion) on apps to be like X. We have an interest in short-form content that summarizes a person's thoughts and expressions.
Funny enough, it was the same feeling as using Facebook back in 2008 when social media was first introduced.
Why Notes?
For one, they require less bandwidth than videos, making them more accessible in areas with slower internet speeds.
They are also less demanding of the user’s time and attention span. Reading a note can be quicker than watching a video, and it’s easier to skim to get the gist, suiting the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s social media users.
Accessibility and Convenience
Notes also offer superior accessibility. Unlike videos, which require a certain level of production quality and can be challenging to create, notes are straightforward. They can be composed and published almost instantaneously without the need for complex editing software or skills. This immediacy not only appeals to creators but also to consumers who enjoy the directness and simplicity of text.
The SEO Edge
From an SEO perspective, text has an undeniable advantage. Search engines index written content more thoroughly than video, making it easier for notes to appear in search results and thus reach a wider audience.
This visibility is crucial for content creators and marketers who rely on organic search traffic to build their brands and businesses.
User Engagement
Interestingly, notes encourage a different type of user engagement. While video often garners quick views and likes, notes seem to stimulate more thoughtful interactions, such as comments and shares. This might be due to the nature of reading, which requires a bit more cognitive engagement and can provoke deeper reflection and discussion.
Environmental Impact
The environmental aspect is another point in favor of notes. Video streaming is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of data and energy. In contrast, transmitting text consumes far less bandwidth and energy, making notes a more eco-friendly option in digital communication.
The Future of Social Media
As social media continues to evolve, the rise of notes does not necessarily signal the end of video content but suggests a shift towards a more diversified content strategy.
Platforms are likely to innovate further, perhaps finding new ways to integrate text and video or enhancing the interactivity of notes through embedded links and multimedia.