I’ve been lucky to catch the first two waves of social media, I have built businesses, nonprofits, and helped others build multimillion dollar empires. I believe we are entering the next wave of social media, let me explain...
The first wave was all about getting people online, exploring the digital world for the first time. I was there in the AOL chat rooms, seeing strangers become friends and communities blossom overnight. I watched Facebook grow from a college network to a global phenomenon, and YouTube turn everyday people into stars. The first wave was about discovery, about jumping into this new space and building a career where the internet wasn’t just a tool, but a way of life. This was the initial migration online.
Then came the second wave, where social media wasn’t just a place to hang out—it became the spark that set real-life events in motion. Want proof? Look no further than the infamous Fyre Festival. Without influencers hyping it up on Instagram, it wouldn’t have become the disaster it was. But that’s not all the second wave was about. It was about email blasts that got people calling their politicians, viral Facebook events that brought thousands to protests, and hashtag movements that showed up in the streets. Social media became the bridge between online and offline, pushing people to take action in the real world.
Now we’re entering the third wave, and it’s bigger than anything we’ve seen before. This isn’t just a new trend—it’s a whole new way of living. We’re not just using social media to get online or take action in real life; we’re blending the two into one seamless existence. Just look at how traditional media is changing. Some people say old-school media is dying, but I think it’s simply evolving. We don’t trust big institutions the way we used to; we want real voices, real stories, and real people. That’s why news isn’t just coming from the big networks anymore; it’s coming from people who’ve built trust by being themselves. We don’t want to hear from a faceless corporation—we want to hear from someone who feels as real as the friend next door.
in the world of failing trust in institutions, individual authenticity is everything.
This is why “IRL” streamers are taking off. They’re not just influencers—they’re people who live their lives online for all to see, turning everyday moments into content. And it’s not just entertainers doing this; even politicians are jumping on the bandwagon, trying to build trust by showing their “real” sides. This shift is about one thing: authenticity. If you’re not being real, people aren’t interested. It’s why so many of us now follow individuals over institutions, and why the third wave is so powerful.
The rise of AR and VR is pushing this even further. We’re getting to a point where living online isn’t just a choice; it’s a necessity. Augmented reality will change the way we see the world around us, and virtual reality will make our online interactions feel as real as sitting in the same room with someone. The lines between real life and online life are blurring, and soon, we won’t be able to tell where one stops and the other begins.
Is this a good thing? Bad? Honestly, that debate is over. It’s happening whether we like it or not. The third wave is here, and it’s changing everything—from how we connect with each other to how we trust and get our information. The question now isn’t whether we’ll live online as we do in person, but how we’ll do it. And just like with the first two waves, those who see the shift and adapt will thrive.
The future is online and in person, all at once, and the way we navigate this world will define how we connect, share, and live for years to come.
