Jon reports that Burning Man 2018 was exactly what 2018 needed, and it got him hyped up on community enough to try going back on Facebook. He lasted three weeks. There’s still something missing that it seems like social media should provide. The correspondence isn’t really the core feature; what online community should provide is a sense of presence. Drew and Jon reminisce about AIM statuses and consider how that indicator of presence could be updated for the technology of today and tomorrow. Social technology is still in its awkward teenage years, just like we were on AIM, but maybe it’s starting to grow up.

Want to be internet friends? Write to Drew and Jon or find us on Micro.blog at @InternetFriends.