Why topic-based communities still beat algorithmic feeds

I was thinking:

Is reddit social media? Was it back in the days? Was it just too techy for the mainstream? Is a topic based community approach so much healthier in comparison to the newer tiktok and instagram "feed" approach where 90% of the content comes from people you don't know and an algorithm you can't control?

If you ask ten people whether Reddit counts as a social media platform, you'll probably get ten different answers.

"It's just a forum"

"It's the last real social platform"

"Nowadays just another algorithm driven content machine"

Reddit is like the crossroad between the "old internet" and modern social media. Understanding why helps to explain what many people feel what's broken about platforms like TikTok and Instagram today.

Yes, Reddit is social media (today)

By any modern definition, Reddit clearly qualifies as social media. Users create profiles. They post content publicly.

Others comment, vote, and share. There’s reputation, personalized feeds, recommendations, chat, and mobile apps. That's basically textbook social media.

But Reddit differs in one crucial way: Most social platforms are built around people. Reddit is built around topics.

This single design choice changes almost everything.

Attention-driven vs. Intent-driven

Actually this is difference in design philosophy:

Reddit is intent-driven consumption. You open Reddit because I want to read about a certain topic or interest of yours. Photography tips, gaming news, ADHD coping strategies or Raspberry Pi Coding projects. You actively decide what to see, based on the topic you chose. You're in control.

TikTok and modern Instagram is attention-driven consumption. You open the app and have to agree that there will be content shown whatever keeps you watching. Algorithm decides, you react (passively or actively). You can't choose.

Three structural reasons Reddit discussions often feel higher quality

1. Identity matters less than ideas

On instagram matters WHO posted it. On Reddit matters WHAT was said. This dramatically changes discourse of the topic.

2. Community-approved content

Not the richest creator, prettiest influencer, best edited video wins. But what the community thinks is useful, funny or interesting.

3. Niche density

On TikTok your audience is everyone. On Reddit you post to people who are already interested in what you post, based on a topic community they joined (Subreddit).

This definitely leads to better target audience with less explanation, clarification or context and deeper conversations.

So there are three different platform types:

1. Social graph: Content from people you know (Facebook)

2. Interest graph: Content from topics you follow (Reddit, old forums, StackOverflow)

3. Engagement graph: Content from what keeps you watching (TikTok, modern Instagram, YouTube Shorts)

The industry trend is definitely strong toward #3 (Engagement graph).

But many users are increasingly fatigued by it, which is exactly why Reddit still survives and people are creating their own Bsky algorithms.

Which way is ideal?

I'd say, that's very individual and depends on the context.

If you prefer to engage intensively with potential brain rot content through doomscrolling and just want to consume, then the engagement graph is probably the right choice for you.

I prefer content that is based on the interest graph to pursue my hobbies and find people who share those interests, deep dive into topics.

However, if you want to connect with people you know and find out what's going on, how people currently are, then the social graph is probably best for you.

Either way, you should be able to choose one of these graphs at any time. Or have an algorithm which responds to your setting accordingly. And for being able to switch or turn something on or off, you should always be in control and not a profit-driven big tech company that monetizes your screen time.