_Centralized platforms_ socialising happened around 2004, Facebook being one big survivor of that time. Because then, centralising stuff to provide a massive service proved more efficient (money wise: resources, investment, control, ads).

But socialising on the internet? There were plenty of options before, around and after then. Only, they didn't get the same support, convergence and effort since then. Because most people trusted the centralized services would opt to do the right things eventually. Ha. Fools were we.

You realize people (including me) were socializing on the internet before any of these big companies existed, right?

There was this open protocol (that still exists!) called IRC. Also: Usenet and email.

Facebook has 3 billion users. IRC and Usenet basically round to zero by comparison.

Email is the real answer here, but the reason it is better is the same reason Facebook et al took over.

Most people weren’t, until the big companies came around and commoditized it.

We also still do it!