A lot of things have changed since the days of Flickr. Facebook has concentrated the sociality of the Internet within its blue borders, like a Walmart siphoning off the mom-and-pop shops that formerly comprised the Internet's gathering places. Communication, in the age of mobile dominance, has become, of necessity, shorter and snack-sized.

Caterina Fake’s quote reflects on the evolution of communication and the internet over the years, particularly focusing on the shift from platforms like Flickr to more centralized social media networks like Facebook. She draws a comparison between Facebook’s dominance in the social media space and Walmart’s ability to push out local businesses, describing how Facebook has taken over the Internet’s social landscape, making it the primary space where people gather, interact, and share. This centralization has reduced the diversity of online communities, replacing a multitude of smaller, niche platforms with a single, larger entity.

Fake’s reference to mobile dominance highlights how the shift to mobile devices has further changed the way people communicate. With the constant availability of smartphones, communication has had to adapt to be more concise and efficient. The term “snack-sized” communication reflects the trend toward shorter, quicker exchanges—whether through tweets, text messages, or instant notifications—rather than in-depth, long-form content. In this fast-paced environment, people are encouraged to share bite-sized pieces of information that can be consumed quickly.

The quote also touches on the impact of this shift on the quality and depth of communication. As platforms like Facebook take center stage, and mobile devices become the primary method of online interaction, there is a reduction in the rich, more complex forms of communication that were once common on the internet. The emphasis on brevity and speed, while convenient, may come at the cost of more meaningful, thoughtful interactions.

Ultimately, Fake’s statement reflects her observation of how social media and mobile technology have reshaped how we communicate, pushing for brevity and centralization at the expense of diverse, slower forms of online engagement. The “Walmart” metaphor underscores the consequences of having a few dominant platforms controlling the social experience, leaving less room for smaller, independent spaces to thrive.