According to Business Insider, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian sees a major shift coming in how we connect online, with the next wave of social apps focusing on trusted groups rather than massive follower counts. His venture firm Seven Seven Six just led a $5 million investment round in Airbuds, a social music app that’s gaining traction with teenagers. Ohanian believes younger generations are actively choosing “a less gamified version of life” that avoids the chase for likes and followers. He also recently revived the social network Digg with its original founder Kevin Rose, tapping into nostalgia for older internet experiences. Ohanian argues there’s “a real hunger” for new social paradigms, especially among millennials who feel “tapped out” by current platforms.
The pendulum swings back to real connections
Here’s the thing about social media evolution – it moves in cycles. We went from the intimate early days of Facebook with college networks to the broadcast model of Instagram and TikTok. Now Ohanian’s saying we’re swinging back toward what actually matters: real human connections with people you actually know and trust. And honestly? It makes complete sense.
Think about where you’re spending most of your social time online these days. For many of us, it’s not public feeds anymore – it’s group chats with close friends, family threads, or small Discord servers. That’s the shift Ohanian’s betting on. These spaces feel different because they’re not optimized for virality or engagement metrics. They’re just… human.
The dead internet theory is getting real
When even OpenAI’s Sam Altman is talking about the “dead internet theory,” you know we’ve hit a turning point. Basically, this is the idea that we’re heading toward an internet dominated by AI content rather than human creation. And look around your feeds – how much of what you’re seeing is actually made by people versus algorithms?
Ohanian’s observation about increased value in “closed networks” feels particularly timely. As AI slop floods public platforms, the places where you can verify you’re interacting with real humans become premium experiences. It’s not about going back to AOL’s walled garden, but about creating spaces where communities can actually form without the noise.
A different way to build and monetize
The most interesting part of Ohanian’s vision might be the business model shift. He’s explicitly saying the future isn’t about “needing to get to billions of users and just selling them ads.” That’s huge coming from someone who helped build one of the internet’s largest communities.
So what replaces the ad-driven attention economy? More creative monetization that aligns platform goals with user interests. Think subscriptions, niche features, or community-supported models. The focus shifts from raw growth numbers to building something people actually feel good about using. After all, who wants to build platforms that leave users feeling worse when they log off?
Why teens are leading the change
Ohanian calls younger users “one of the best bellwethers” for internet trends, and he’s absolutely right. This generation has grown up watching the mental health toll of social media on their older siblings and parents. They’ve seen the influencer economy’s dark side. They’re choosing differently.
And you know what? They’re smarter for it. Opting out of the follower chase and choosing “a healthier type of paradigm for social” isn’t just a preference – it’s a survival strategy. The fact that apps like Airbuds are gaining traction suggests they’re onto something. Maybe the future of social isn’t about being famous to millions, but about being known by dozens.
