Social networks shape our opinions, our interactions and even our democracies. Yet their current model is criticised for its flaws: inadequate data protection, algorithmic biases, dependence on American and Chinese platforms, massive dissemination of disinformation, etc. In the face of these excesses, a European project is seeking to propose an alternative. Project Monnet, led by Christos Floros, aims to rethink social networks by incorporating European values of neutrality, transparency and user protection.
Is such a project feasible? Can it really do better than the giants of the sector? We spoke to Stéphanie Lukasik, a researcher at the University of Luxembourg and coordinator of the Medialux project, who provides some background on the need for such a project.
I think that in ten years, social networks will be even more important than they are today, and the platform that will become the benchmark social network has not yet been invented, and it could be ours.
Social networks: a minefield full of bias
One of the main problems with existing platforms is the excessive personalisation of content, which locks users into filter bubbles. “The biggest problem today is the over-personalisation of information,” explains Lukasik, a social scientist. These bubbles reinforce cognitive biases and the polarisation of debates, creating a climate in which opposing ideas rarely come face to face.
For Floros, this situation is untenable. “The current system is not only flawed, but also dangerous,” he says, pointing to the political manipulation that ensues, with certain influencers using their audience to steer votes or promote ideologies, with no transparency over their funding.
Misinformation is another major flaw. While some initiatives such as fact-checking have been put in place, they remain limited. “Fact-checking does not work as well as we think, because it often targets those who already had doubts, without convincing those who are spreading false information,” notes Lukasik. Floros therefore proposes making content creators more responsible by encouraging the verification of influential accounts, while leaving ordinary users the option of remaining anonymous.
Online harassment remains a scourge. “The protection of minorities on social platforms, which have become our new digital public spaces, is essential,” says Floros. Project Monnet plans to incorporate more transparent and accessible moderation mechanisms, while avoiding the arbitrary censorship often blamed on current platforms.
Finally, dependence on non-European platforms poses a problem for digital sovereignty. “We are in a situation where we are constantly entrusting our technological ecosystem to external players,” stresses Floros.
Project Monnet: a credible alternative
In light of this, Project Monnet intends to offer a more transparent platform that respects users. “We don’t want to create a new Facebook, but something different,” says Floros.
One of the pillars of the project is an overhaul of the algorithm. Unlike traditional social networks, Monnet would seek to balance personalisation and diversity of information, without locking users into a single point of view. This approach is in line with the idea put forward by Lukasik: “A European social network must maintain a form of personalisation, but incorporate more diversity and trusted information.”
The integration of professional media is another key element. Floros wants the media to play an active role on the platform to guarantee a space of trust and an effective fight against disinformation. “We have a blurring of the boundaries between journalists and content creators. Most young people don’t know the difference any more,” adds Lukasik. The idea would therefore be to give greater visibility to media that respect an ethical charter, while maintaining a balance with independent content creators.
Another point of differentiation: ethical design. Unlike Tiktok or Instagram, which use addictive mechanisms to attract users’ attention and keep them on the platform for longer, Monnet promises to limit these psychological effects. “How do you create an application that doesn’t steal people's time while remaining attractive?” asks Floros. The aim is to encourage more reasoned use of the social network, without encouraging compulsive consumption of content.
Major challenges
First of all, there is the question of funding. Floros is looking to raise more than €1m in initial funding, but remains aware that this is not enough to compete with giants such as Meta or Tiktok. Lukasik points out that “to really compete with the big platforms, we’re talking about a budget of €100m.” Finding a viable business model, based on advertising or subscription, will be a major challenge.
Second, the mass adoption of a new social network remains uncertain. The failure of Mastodon illustrates the difficulty of convincing users to leave a well-established platform. “Why do people stay on a social network? Because their network is there. You need a collective awareness to get users to switch,” notes Lukasik. To get around this obstacle, Project Monnet is banking on an intuitive interface and thematic communities, enabling users to browse by centres of interest rather than by opaque algorithms.
We need to involve civil society in the very design of the social network. Otherwise, it won’t work.
Another key issue concerns the governance of the platform. If Monnet is to stand out for its transparency, it must also avoid being perceived as a European institutional project. “If the project is perceived as a tool of the European institutions, it runs the risk of being rejected by those who distrust the authorities,” warns Lukasik. Floros, for his part, stresses the importance of a mixed governance model--involving private investors, the media and civil society--to ensure the platform’s independence.
The viability of the project will depend on its ability to convince investors, the media and, above all, users. If Europe really wants to hold its own against the American and Chinese giants, it must not only offer an alternative, but also rethink the economic and ethical model for social networks. “Europe regulates, the United States innovates, China copies. It’s time for Europe to innovate too,” concludes Floros.
If this alternative is to emerge, it will have to meet a major challenge: to exist without repeating the mistakes of the past.
This article was originally published in .