With the recent controversies surrounding Reddit and Twitter angering millions of users worldwide, it seems certain that the social media landscape is about to undergo a major disruption.

Twitter has fallen from its perch

Twitter has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the last year. Elon Musk’s less-than-successful takeover of the company last fall has sent the company into a tailspin. The devaluing of blue ticks, increased character limit, and recent limit in daily post viewing have alienated many users from the platform. And Twitter’s slow decline shows little sign of ceasing anytime soon.

Reddit attempts to put out fire

Reddit has been under similar scrutiny in recent months. The company’s decision to charge third-party developers for access to data has resulted in a long and fierce protest. Moderators have locked many of the platform’s most popular subreddits, preventing users from accessing content. In response, Reddit has begun manually removing long-serving admins in an effort to quell the flames.

Tumblr attempts to capture the public eye

So, if Reddit and Twitter are losing traction, which platforms are set to capture the market? Unsurprisingly, TikTok is still on the rise and shows little sign of slowing down. Perhaps more surprising is Tumblr’s recent decision to streamline its site design and make the platform more accessible to new users. Could this be the perfect opportunity for the social media dark horse to capture a new audience and take its place among the social media giants?

What’s next for social media?

All in all, significant changes are upon us, though it's far too early to tell what they'll be. As designers, the downfall of Twitter and Reddit teaches us a valuable lesson. Listen to your audience - they're the ones that hold the key, and, as the changing social media environment shows us, they always will.