There’s a unique trend picking up pace in the ever-morphing landscape of the digital world. Megaplatforms of the Internet, which once prided themselves on their distinct features, are gradually merging their offerings, resulting in something of a digital blob. It appears even the leaders in the tech field are susceptible to this ongoing convergence phenomenon.
1. TikTok’s Influence on the Internet
TikTok exploded into our lives — and our phones — with a fresh concept: short-form, vertical video content. Previously, viewing videos involved turning our devices sideways, a rather awkward and unnatural maneuver. TikTok’s vertical videos are easy, efficient, and have found fans amongst not just its users, but also other major Internet players.
2. The Borrowing Game
Because of TikTok’s unprecedented success, rival platforms are attempting to replicate the magic. It has also caused a noticeable trend of platforms borrowing features from each other. But TikTok is not just being imitated; it’s also imitating. The popular app is reportedly borrowing strategies from its competitors, participating in this growing trend of digital convergence.
3. The Blob of Sameness
This converging trend is molding the digital realm into a sort of homogeneous blob. While under normal circumstances, this could sound dull and unappealing, it really represents a shrewd survival strategy. Top Internet platforms are becoming increasingly similar to remain competitive and interconnected in the rapidly evolving digital world.
4. Universal & Unique Features
Despite this trend, each platform continues to hold on to its unique qualities. Despite Twitter incorporating Instagram-like story features, it hasn’t retracted its unique premise of character-limited expressions or impactful user commentary. Similarly, even as Instagram leans into an e-commerce model, it still manages to foreground visual content and influencer culture.
A New Chapter
As this new chapter of digital platforms unfolds, it’s interesting to observe how titans of the digital world adjust to these shifts and turns. Whether we look at this trend as a creative drift towards homogeneity or an astute survival strategy, only time will tell how it impacts the future development of our beloved internet platforms. In the meantime, while enjoying the comfortable familiarity of these platforms, let’s also relish their unique features that make each of them special.
Credit: BBC. TechCrunch, Reuters
