Social Media Copycat
It started with Snapchat's stories.
With the growing success of people posting their day-to-day lives for the world to see, other social media started to implement stories of their own, hoping for the same success that Snapchat had. Instagram started, even adding what they called "Friends Only," which had the same format as Snapchat's private stories. Apps such as Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and others were quick to add stories of their own.
Next, with the rise of the social media app TikTok, platforms such as Instagram and YouTube created their own form of the 10-second videos that TikTok is known for. Instagram, for example, created "Instagram Reels," a direct copy of TikTok's 10-second video layout.
In my opinion, it is morally wrong to steal ideas from other platforms. Users have begun to make fun of these copycat social media, bringing down the app's credibility overall. In a recent trend, TikTok users made jokes about how Instagram Reels users learn about trends and topics weeks after they happen, referencing the idea that no trends start on Reels, and people just use it to repost their old TikTok's onto Instagram.
Finally, most recently with the popularity of the social media app BeReal – in which people post daily at a random time a photo of themselves from a front and back camera view, apps such as TikTok have created their own version, which they call "TikTok Now." With the growing issue of social media, all copying from each other, individuality among apps fades and social media seems to become one big cluster.
The copying will not stop here. With new social media apps coming out at a higher rate, already existing apps are on the lookout for ways they can take advantage of trends and ideas from other less well-known apps. This trend of stealing ideas pushes people away from social media because people don't get to experience new ideas the same they would experience them if the copying didn't take place. It is a similar experience to watching a decently-made knock-off of a blockbuster movie. While it may be enjoyable, it is not the same as enjoying the real thing.
With every social media adding each other's features, apps become crowded and difficult to navigate. Not only does this copycat strategy take away from individuality, but it also can create frustration with users because of all the constant updates and changing formats, lowering the credibility and reliability of the apps overall.
With the issue only growing, it's dire that a solution is created to stop apps from stealing ideas from each other and ruining the diverse uses of various apps. Platforms need to embrace their individuality and recognize that copying other apps won't benefit them as much as creating new original ideas for their own apps. People should be able to go to TikTok to watch short clips, Instagram to post pictures, Snapchat to post about their day and BeReal to show people their true selves. Each app has parts that make it unique, and embracing those parts can help each platform grow and evolve into a more individual app for everyone to enjoy.
Opinion by Braeden Craig
