Mainstream social platforms are losing their core value proposition. What happened? They ditched community building in pursuit of viral mechanics. The shift is stark—gone are the days of niche communities thriving through genuine interactions. Today's algorithm doesn't curate content for you anymore; it chases engagement at any cost. Unless your post goes viral, it disappears into the void. This isn't community; it's a lottery system. The new algorithmic approach strips away what made these platforms unique: real connections, organic growth within niches, and user agency. When platforms abandon intentional community design for algorithmic virality, they cannibalize their own ecosystem. Users feel it. Creators feel it. The result? Platforms become hollow entertainment machines rather than spaces for meaningful connection. This is precisely why decentralized alternatives are gaining traction—they're built on principles of community ownership and algorithmic transparency, not algorithmic black boxes.