The Shift from Follower to Interest-Based Models

The traditional follower model, which defined social media for years, is being upended by interest-based algorithms that prioritize content over individual creators. Platforms like TikTok have pioneered a new approach by focusing on user interests rather than the accounts they follow, leading to a more decentralized distribution of content. This shift has resulted in creators experiencing dramatically reduced engagement with their established followers, as their posts may no longer reach the audience that previously opted in to receive them. The adoption of these algorithms by other major platforms has further diluted the connection between content creators and their communities, challenging the very foundation of how audiences interact with their favorite creators.