The State of Social Media in 2025

Unless you’ve been living completely off the grid, you’ve probably heard of Facebook, Twitter (now X), and Instagram. Most people are on at least one of these platforms—or maybe they’re on TikTok, YouTube, or LinkedIn. Businesses have also relied on these platforms for marketing. But even though these companies are worth billions, people are starting to question whether these platforms can keep going as they are. In this blog, we’ll break down some of the problems with today’s biggest social media platforms and why alternatives might be the future.

The Problems with Social Media

Social media is everywhere, and let’s be honest, it’s not all bad. But it’s also been linked to a lot of major issues in society. A study from the Journal of Global Information Management grouped these problems into six main categories:

• Mental Health Struggles – Spending too much time online can lead to anxiety, depression, and other challenges.
• Annoying Content – Nobody likes endless ads, trolls, or seeing content that just feels upsetting or irrelevant.
• Privacy Concerns – Your personal data gets collected, sold, and used in ways you probably wouldn’t agree with.
• Security Risks – Scams, fraud, and other cyberthreats are way too common.
• Cyberbullying – Social media can become a breeding ground for hate, misinformation, and abusive behavior.
• Distractions – Social media can mess with your focus at school, work, or even just trying to enjoy life offline.

What’s wild is that most of the biggest platforms haven’t done much to fix these issues. Some people even argue that these companies profit by ignoring them. So, what could the future of social media look like? Let’s explore two ideas: decentralized platforms and regulation.

Decentralized Social Media

If you’re tired of tech giants controlling everything, you’re not alone. The biggest social media platforms are run by some of the richest and most powerful companies in the world. But there’s a growing interest in decentralized social media—platforms that aren’t owned by one company but are spread across different servers.

Here’s why this matters: on decentralized platforms, users have more control. You decide what data gets shared, what content you see, and what you post. Instead of corporations chasing profits, these platforms prioritize their communities.

Some of the top decentralized platforms right now include:

Mastodon – Like X (formerly Twitter) but decentralized.
Steemit – A Reddit-style platform.
BlueSky – Another alternative to X, backed by one of Twitter’s original founders.
PeerTube – Think YouTube, but decentralized.
Pixelfed – Like Instagram but without the corporate influence.

Switching to decentralized platforms might feel weird at first, and these platforms are still growing. But if you’re over your current feed and want more control, they might be worth a shot.

The Role of Regulation

Don’t hold your breath, but lawmakers are starting to talk about regulating social media. The problem? It’s complicated.

There are two main arguments:

Social media spreads misinformation, and that’s hurting society. Censorship on these platforms limits free speech, which is also bad for society.

So, how do you fix one without making the other worse? That’s the challenge. On top of that, tech companies have so much money and power that many politicians don’t want to take them on—kind of like how they’ve avoided cracking down on big industries like oil or pharmaceuticals.

Some small changes have been made, like new privacy laws, steps to protect younger users, and even lawsuits trying to break up tech monopolies. But progress has been slow, and it feels like social media companies still care more about profits than people.

What Can You Do?

If your social media feed feels like it’s draining your energy or making you unhappy, you don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle. Decentralized platforms or limiting your screen time might help. Big changes to social media are probably still years away, but you don’t have to wait to make changes that work for you.

Want to learn more about how the tech you use affects your life? Return to our blog again soon.