This talk by Christian Croft, who leads product at Microsoft GroupMe, explores how people are shifting back to smaller, more authentic spaces online. GroupMe, the original group messaging app (seriously, it launched before iMessage), serves as a case study in how tech cycles repeat themselves. Drawing parallels between the early internet and today’s trends, we’ll unpack why people are retreating from algorithm-driven feeds, craving digital intimacy, and rediscovering the beauty of niche communities.
The history of technology is a story of cycles. Just like vinyl is reclaiming its cultural cachet in music today, our online lives are moving past the compressed noise of public social feeds to spaces with more analog depth. Enter the comeback of private messaging spaces, where genuine connection matters more than follower counts.
Whether you’re an OG internet kid or just weary of the endless scroll, this talk offers a roadmap to the future of online culture—and a fresh lens on what connection truly means.