what makes social media apps good is something you can’t measure.

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the importance of cultural relevance in the success of technology products, beyond just metrics like user growth and engagement. It argues that the most impactful products are those that become cultural touchstones, transcending the app or platform they originated from. The article provides examples of how cultural context and legacy can shape the perception and usage of various social media and technology products. It also explores strategies for building culturally relevant apps, such as tapping into specific subcultures and enabling users to build their identity around the product. The key point is that true product success is not just about numbers, but about the emotional and social impact a product has on people's lives.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Importance of Cultural Relevance

1. What are the key points made about the importance of cultural relevance for technology products?

• The article argues that the most successful products are not just those that reach a large user base, but those that become culturally relevant and representative of a specific point in time.
• Cultural context and legacy can shape the perception and usage of technology products, beyond just their features.
• The true sign of a culturally successful social media platform is when the content it generates transcends the app itself and becomes an abstraction of the platform.
• Cultural impact and consumer reputation are ways that real humans can define software in the way that software defines their lives.

2. What examples does the article provide to illustrate culturally relevant technology products?

• 4chan being associated with people who have poor social skills
• MySpace being linked to users over the age of 25
• TikTok shop being synonymous with being scammed
• Bitcoin payments being associated with illegal purchases

3. How does the article describe the relationship between cultural relevance and product features?

• The article suggests that successful products are not just about the features, but about how those features enable the community using the product to create part of their identity.
• Cultural relevance is shaped by a product's features, wording, underlying philosophy, the people hired, and the moderation (or lack thereof) of the platform.

[02] Building Culturally Relevant Apps

1. What strategies does the article suggest for building culturally relevant apps?

• Identify and tap into specific subcultures or markets, building the product around their needs and identity.
• Develop a product culture and thesis around how the product should navigate the world and who would be on board with that.
• Focus on creating content and features that enable users to self-identify with the product and share that identity with others.

2. What example does the article provide of a culturally relevant app, Superfan?

• Superfan is a Spotify data-focused app that enables users to share their music listening habits in a visually compelling way, fostering a sense of identity and community around specific artists.
• Superfan has worked to create a "cultural flywheel" where users share their Superfan content, artists engage with their top fans, and this content then spreads further through social media.
• The article suggests that Superfan's next step is to develop unique, shareable content that becomes synonymous with being a Superfan, further cementing its cultural relevance.

3. How does the article contrast cultural relevance with traditional measures of product success?

• The article argues that much of the tech industry's focus on metrics like DAU, MAU, and financial performance misses the importance of cultural impact, which is more emotional and difficult to quantify.
• Cultural relevance is about the product's ability to become a part of people's lives and identities, rather than just reaching a large user base.