Pop media has lost its "small forms." We no longer have Saturday Night Live digital shorts that go viral because they are funny, not because they are promos. We no have music videos that tell a 3-minute story. We have no Cartoon Network shorts or Pixar theatrical shorts before movies.
: Social media is no longer just a promotional tool; it is the entertainment itself. Creating content that encourages participation—like interactive streams on or short-form trends on —builds a loyal base that "broadcast-only" media lacks. Adopt Digital-First Models
Popular media can rebuild trust by anchoring stories in tangible human experiences. This means investing in practical effects, filming on location, and focusing on localized, high-stakes emotional conflicts rather than cosmic disasters. Writers must also move past superficial representation and focus on complex, flawed characters whose motivations drive the plot organically, rather than serving as mouthpieces for contemporary social media discourse. A New Framework for Entertainment
Fixing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach involving creators, consumers, and producers. 1. Prioritize Creator-Driven Content
So, what's the fix? Here are a few potential solutions:
From sagging superhero franchises to algorithm-choked social feeds and music that sounds like it was mixed by a committee, the user experience of entertainment is broken. The complaints are universal: "Nothing original ever gets made." "Everything is a sequel, prequel, or reboot." "I spend 45 minutes scrolling just to watch 10 minutes of something."