For me, the dark side of the internet is not some far away terrorist or cybersecurity threat, it’s the fostering of negativity and toxic interactions that have increasingly pervaded our everyday online experiences.
These days, when I scroll through Twitter/X, it’s mostly just a stream of angry rants. Facebook is bloated with memes and ads. I like WhatsApp for arranging things and sharing funnies, but that’s about it. Instagram is entertaining but lacks depth, and LinkedIn, though informative, is noisy with self-promotion.
Where are the positive, life-affirming alternatives – the social platforms that bring out the best in everyone?
In truth, I find that few things capture my attention online or inspire me. While social media has many positives, if I wanted positivity added to my life, I wouldn’t think: “I must check out Facebook”.
In 2013, driven by thoughts like these, I became fixated on creating a social network for social good. This led me to develop the Made Open platform, where I’ve invested my heart and soul ever since. Made Open platforms represent a positive space on the internet, and I’m proud to be associated with them all.
But here’s the thing: most people aren’t purely positive or negative, nor entirely altruistic or self-centred. We’re a mix.
This has led me to the uneasy conclusion that Made Open could benefit from being more like Facebook – a place that encourages altruism but also taps into self-interest.
So, after 10 long years of developing what I would consider a purely altruistic platform, I have concluded that to unlock people’s kindness, you have to unlock their competitive spirit too. Any network that appeals to the former while alienating the latter will only have limited appeal.
That’s why I’m excited about Time4Good – a new venture using Made Open’s tech to promote uplifting and supportive behaviour while rewarding and recognising it too; something mainstream social media has failed to do.
My colleague Geoff likens it to awakening kindness that’s dormant in communities – spreading kindness like confestti! Under his brilliant creative leadership, our aim is to eliminate negative interactions found on other social networks by rewarding positive interactions on T4G.
His view, which I agree with, is that people would help out / micro-volunteer if they knew what others needed and could fit it in around their busy lives (and get some social kudos to boot).
I won’t detail Time4Good’s features here but I will say that its purpose is to spread kindness. That’s why we’re defining Time4Good as a “kindness platform”, not exactly the antidote to Twitter/X, but certainly moving in the polar opposite direction.
By sharing stories of goodwill, I believe Time4Good will contribute to a more balanced and uplifting media landscape, where kindness is celebrated and prioritised.
Roll on October (our soft launch date).
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“The man who planted trees” category is named after the short story by French author Jean Giono (published in 1953). It’s a brilliant tale about a man whose actions benefit many people without them ever knowing it.