Vibe Coding Platforms are AI-Native Social Media
Vibe coding platforms are emergent, AI-native social media networks.
These platforms give consumers the ability to create apps by simply prompting LLMs with natural language. The result? Everyone is now a developer and software is a new form of content.
Today, these platforms are used primarily as tools. Consumers generate software for their own amusement and maybe post those vibe-coded apps publicly or share them with friends. The prompt-based apps aren’t good enough to top the app store (yet). But they are definitely good enough to have fun.
That single-player behavior acts as an important top-of-funnel for potential network effects. The more vibe-coded apps built and shared on the platform, the more that platform becomes a source of distribution and discovery. Come for the tool, stay for the network.
Let’s assume this hypothesis is indeed true. It provokes a bunch of interesting downstream questions:
What does monetization for these platforms look like? If they are new social media networks, the logical conclusion would be that software generation should be free. Charging for credits would be analogous to charging people to post on Instagram; it’s antithetical in that it constrains engagement (with payment) whereas social media networks strive to optimize engagement.
Ads are a tried and true mechanism for monetizing attention. What would advertisements look like on vibe coding platforms? This is really two questions: what is the form-factor of ads, and how are ads distributed?
Are there better mechanisms for enabling content generators to earn? Everyone wants to get paid more for their content. Many want to be able to invest in the growth of their favorite creators, especially when they spot promising talent early. New platforms give us the ability to rethink economics (and utilize more modern payment rails) in really interesting and exciting ways.
Are traditional feeds the best display for discovery and distribution? Feeds are great for relatively passive content. If apps require us to click in, what is the optimal format for discovery?
How might these platforms cultivate network effects? Discovery and distribution of apps is one answer. The ability to remix pieces of content may be another. What else?
New social media networks emerge when we remove barriers to high-skilled creativity. Instagram made everyone a photographer. Twitter made everyone a short-form blogger. TikTok made everyone a video editor. Vibe coding platforms make everyone an app developer. Software is the new media, and vibe coding platforms are new social networks.
***********
Thank you to Charlie Blackstock, Bobby Blackstock, and Brexton Pham for conversations that indirectly influenced ideas in this post.