Social networking systems have become central to modern life, yet many are designed to capture attention rather than support users’ well-being. This manifesto argues for a new generation of responsible SNS—platforms that are transparent, auditable, and non-addictive by design. By embracing open-source principles and prioritizing the public interest, such systems could reshape digital interaction into a healthier and more accountable space.
Facebook and Instagram enable people to connect with each other. YouTube and TikTok enable users to share videos with each other. I refer to them collectively as social networking systems (SNS) here.
Current SNS are addictive by design. Users' attention is the currency for measuring success. The algorithms used to recommend content are opaque. It is unclear how much they are driven by commercial or political interests. Today’s SNS possess substantial, largely unregulated power.
We would like SNS to use transparent and auditable algorithms for recommendations and for handling personal data. (The data itself should remain confidential, of course, but the algorithms that process it should be transparent.) These systems should use open-source software. We want SNS that prioritize users' interests—for example, systems that are non-addictive by design and that remind users to take breaks after extended use.
How could responsible SNS emerge, and who would benefit from building them? There are many successful open-source projects, such as UNIX and GNU, which serve their users well. There are also donation-based resources, with Wikipedia being a strong example. Hopefully, people will be willing to collaborate and create responsible SNS.
By helping people communicate in a safe and healthy environment, responsible SNS could gain strong public support.
Would others copy such SNS for commercial exploitation? Many have used UNIX to build commercial systems and GNU software to develop commercial products. No doubt companies would also use responsible SNS as a foundation for social media platforms and profit from them. Such activities should be welcome, as long as they keep their software open source.
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