# Social Media Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Social Media", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

The Free Era of the Internet Has Come to an End

The free era of the internet is ending. On May 27th, Meta officially announced a global paid subscription rollout, including Instagram Plus ($3.99/month), Facebook Plus ($3.99/month), and WhatsApp Plus ($2.99/month). This follows a major company shift towards AI, marked by recent layoffs and a massive $125-145 billion investment in AI infrastructure. The move aims to create a predictable revenue stream for investors, moving beyond reliance on fluctuating ad income. Unlike the earlier European "pay for no ads" model, these new tiers focus on offering enhanced features—like anonymous Story viewing on Instagram or privacy tools on WhatsApp—to provide "a bit more control." However, a Forrester survey indicates 70% of users are reluctant to pay, questioning the value. The core of Meta's strategy lies in its upcoming AI subscriptions, priced at $7.99 and $19.99, offering advanced reasoning and higher usage limits, mirroring the freemium models of OpenAI and Anthropic. With Meta's billions of users, even a small conversion rate could generate significant revenue. Analysts are optimistic, with some projecting WhatsApp alone could bring in $40 billion annually by 2030. This shift reflects a broader industry trend where the old bargain of "free services for user data" is under pressure from rising privacy regulations and the immense costs of AI development. The success of Meta's subscriptions hinges on whether users find enough value in these premium features to open their wallets, signaling a fundamental change in how the internet is funded.

marsbit05/29 02:15

The Free Era of the Internet Has Come to an End

marsbit05/29 02:15

Bitcoin Sentiment Back To Extreme Fear As Price Slips Under $76,000

The Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index has fallen back into "extreme fear" territory with a value of 25, following a recent price retracement. Bitcoin's price has slipped below $75,500 after briefly recovering above $77,000. Historically, such extreme fear levels have been associated with potential market bottoms, though the indicator can remain in this zone for extended periods before a reversal. Concurrently, social media sentiment analysis shows bearish commentary currently outweighing bullish sentiment, reflecting broader market pessimism.

bitcoinist05/28 11:18

Bitcoin Sentiment Back To Extreme Fear As Price Slips Under $76,000

bitcoinist05/28 11:18

Luo Yonghao, Who Made 30 Times on Bitcoin: His Entangled Past with the Crypto World

After a six-year hiatus, Luo Yonghao has returned to X (formerly Twitter) on a revived old account, wading back into the Web3 and crypto conversation hub. His return has quickly involved exchanges with crypto figures, including warnings against scams using his name. Luo has a long history with the space, stating he once earned over 30 times his initial investment on a 1 million RMB Bitcoin purchase during the 2017/18 bull run. He also co-founded a company with Bitcoin influencer Li Xiaolai, exiting his stake before the project suffered a major hack in 2023. Publicly, Luo has expressed belief in blockchain technology's potential and once claimed plans for a blockchain phone, while simultaneously distancing himself from ICOs and day trading. In 2019, during his company's financial troubles, he rejected public job offers from crypto entrepreneurs like Justin Sun and OKEx's Xu Kun, stating he had no plans to launch a token. Now back on X, Luo's renewed presence in the Web3-dominated platform hints at further inevitable engagement with the volatile crypto industry, raising questions about what new chapters his story might hold.

marsbit05/20 00:04

Luo Yonghao, Who Made 30 Times on Bitcoin: His Entangled Past with the Crypto World

marsbit05/20 00:04

Bitcoin Social Euphoria Hits Yearly High Amid CLARITY Act Buzz

Bitcoin social sentiment has surged to a yearly high following the U.S. Senate Banking Committee's bipartisan approval of the CLARITY Act. Data from Santiment shows a ratio of 1.55 bullish comments for every 1 bearish comment, indicating a "FOMO zone" similar to a peak in late April. Analysts note such high optimism often signals a short-term profit-taking opportunity, contrasting with the better contrarian buy signal seen during recent "FUD zone" pessimism. Despite near-term caution, the CLARITY Act is viewed as a long-term positive, aiming to establish a clearer federal regulatory framework for digital assets by defining roles for the SEC and CFTC. The bill, supported by major crypto firms, now awaits a full Senate vote, with a critical window for passage before the August recess.

bitcoinist05/18 11:02

Bitcoin Social Euphoria Hits Yearly High Amid CLARITY Act Buzz

bitcoinist05/18 11:02

The Construction of SocialFi Originates from a Misreading of Its Own Medium

This article argues that the fundamental failure of SocialFi projects like Friend.tech stems from a misunderstanding of social media's core nature. It applies Marshall McLuhan's theory of "hot" and "cool" media. "Cool" media (like traditional social networks) rely on low-resolution, incomplete signals (e.g., a tweet) that require user participation to create meaning. "Hot" media (like radio or print) deliver complete, high-resolution information that encourages passive consumption. SocialFi attempted to layer finance onto social media by making actions like follows and posts directly tradable with visible, real-time prices. However, this financial signal is a definitive "hot" signal. By superimposing it onto the inherently "cool" medium of social interaction, it fundamentally transformed the medium. Users stopped participating socially and instead began allocating capital rationally based on prices. The financial layer consumed the social one, leaving no genuine social substrate when speculation faded. The article extends this analysis to broader platform decay (e.g., Twitter's shift from cool participation to hot performance metrics) and NFTs. NFT platforms, by optimizing collections with real-time floor prices and rarity scores, rapidly "heated up" the traditionally "cool," participation-rich medium of collecting, destroying its cultural essence and leaving only speculative trading. The solution proposed is not to abandon capital in social contexts, but to design for "condensation points"—localized, infrequent financial interfaces (like Substack subscriptions or Patreon memberships) that allow capital to gather without saturating and overheating the core cool medium. The key lesson is that "liquidity is heat"; adding it to a cool medium doesn't enhance it but alters it, often destroying what made it valuable. Successful platforms will be those that introduce capital while meticulously preserving the cool, participatory nature of their underlying medium.

链捕手05/14 09:22

The Construction of SocialFi Originates from a Misreading of Its Own Medium

链捕手05/14 09:22

First Day Review of "Musk's WeChat" XChat: Even Worse Than Expected

Elon Musk's much-anticipated "WeChat-like" app, XChat, has officially launched after multiple delays. The initial review reveals a product that falls short of expectations, offering an experience largely similar to X Platform's (formerly Twitter) direct messages, despite being marketed as an encrypted communication tool. Key observations from the first-day test include: 1. The app's promoted "end-to-end encryption" and its claimed relation to Bitcoin's architecture were criticized by experts as a superficial attempt to capitalize on crypto buzz, with no real technical connection. 2. Musk's vision of an ad-free "secure communication system" is technically met, but only because the app is currently extremely basic, featuring only a single chat interface. 3. A promised anti-screenshot feature appears inconsistent; it works in X Platform group chats but fails within the XChat app itself, where screenshots still capture avatars. 4. The app supports 45 languages and has a 16+ age rating, indicating a broader tolerance for content compared to WeChat's 13+ rating. 5. A puzzling login process requires users to verify the email associated with their X account. 6. The touted encryption" feels minimal in practice, with its presence only indicated by a simple "Encrypted - Yes" label on messages. 7. Disappearing message timers for groups can be set from 5 minutes to 4 weeks, with the timer starting upon being read by a user. 8. Group invite links are shared with X Platform groups. 9. Group size limits are planned to be increased, aiming for 1000 members, a move that has drawn user criticism. 10. The app offers 8 different colored icons, and its chat bubbles are notably similar to WeChat's. Message deletion options mimic Telegram's. Crucially, many pre-announced features like importing X contacts, integrating Grok AI, X Money payments, and Cashtags are not yet available. The initial release is seen as a bare-bones and underwhelming first step.

Odaily星球日报04/25 02:13

First Day Review of "Musk's WeChat" XChat: Even Worse Than Expected

Odaily星球日报04/25 02:13

X Supports Memes, Is the Meme Season Really Coming?

X has introduced a new "Custom Timeline" feature, allowing Premium users on iOS to pin specific topics—including a dedicated "meme" category—to their main tab. The meme section, represented by a Flork logo, sparked a 17x price surge for the Ethereum-based meme token FLORK. Meme content is crucial for X: 66% of all content with over 100k impressions in 2026 were meme-based, and such content drives significant engagement, especially among users aged 18–34. Memes also influence politics and brand marketing, as seen in Trump’s 2024 campaign and KitKat’s viral response to a theft incident. While the new feature includes a "Cryptocurrency" category, the meme section is designed primarily for high-quality meme content rather than directly promoting meme coins. However, meme coin accounts that focus on organic, engaging content—without explicitly pushing token tickers—may benefit from increased visibility and user conversion through this dedicated timeline.

marsbit04/23 04:10

X Supports Memes, Is the Meme Season Really Coming?

marsbit04/23 04:10

What’s Going On Between The XRP And Solana Community On X?

A weekend controversy sparked a playful exchange between the XRP and Solana communities on X. It began when Solana Foundation President Lily Liu commented that blockchain gaming was not making a comeback, which drew humorous reactions from users. The official Solana account jokingly suggested a user switch to XRP, a remark amplified by crypto exchange Bitrue. Ripple’s former CTO, David Schwartz, added to the banter with a meme response. Beyond the social media drama, the two ecosystems are technically interconnected. In 2024, XRP was integrated into Solana via a wrapped token (wXRP), enabling its use within Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. Additionally, Ripple has pursued broader cross-chain interoperability, working with protocols like Wormhole to connect the XRP Ledger to over 35 blockchains, including Solana. Industry observers also note that Ripple executives have acknowledged Solana’s influence on XRPL’s development, particularly in terms of speed and pragmatism.

bitcoinist03/24 02:02

What’s Going On Between The XRP And Solana Community On X?

bitcoinist03/24 02:02

AI Influencer Zhang Zala's Secret to Gaining 50,000 Followers: Algorithm as Network, Beware of AI Alienation...

AI influencer Zhang Zala shares strategies for growing to 50k followers on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing treating the platform as a "party" rather than a "stage." Key tactics include: curating the algorithm feed to prioritize high-quality AI and tech discussions; engaging authentically in replies without AI-generated responses; posting consistently (3+ times daily) through public learning, product feedback, and demo sharing; and avoiding AI-assisted writing until developing a unique voice. Underlying factors include her pre-existing Silicon Valley AI network and prior follower base from Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu. Authenticity and providing value are central to sustainable growth.

marsbit03/24 00:42

AI Influencer Zhang Zala's Secret to Gaining 50,000 Followers: Algorithm as Network, Beware of AI Alienation...

marsbit03/24 00:42

Wearing Slippers, Drinking Hot Water, Practicing Baduanjin: This Generation of Foreigners Collectively 'Diagnosed' as Chinese

An article from The New York Times Chinese website explores the viral TikTok trend where Western users humorously "diagnose" themselves as Chinese by adopting certain lifestyle habits. These include wearing slippers indoors, practicing the exercise Ba Duan Jin, using pillow covers, drinking hot water (often with apples, red dates, or goji berries), and embracing aunty-style floral cotton jackets. What began as a joke evolved into a popular meme, with users enthusiastically sharing their "very Chinese moments" and exploring details like whether to peel apples or switch to pears. While some Chinese-American influencers act as cultural arbiters, promoting practices like hotpot dinners or traditional medicine, others criticize the trend for oversimplifying and fetishizing Chinese culture. The phrase "diagnosed as Chinese" is particularly contentious, evoking racist stereotypes heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the trend reflects a surprising shift towards admiration, with users praising China’s high-speed rail, electric vehicles, and affordable healthcare. The article notes that this fascination coexists with political tensions, such as the potential TikTok ban in the U.S., which drove users to Chinese app Xiaohongshu. Ultimately, the trend highlights both a romanticized vision of Chinese life and the complex dynamics of cultural exchange on social media.

比推03/20 19:18