Stage 3: Extraction · Social
Surplus shifts toward business customers and shareholders; ads, fees, and degradation accelerate.
Stage
Function
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LinkedIn
3 ExtractionThe default résumé graph for many industries, increasingly monetized via feed ads, recruiter tools, and upsells—users are the inventory.
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X (Twitter)
3 ExtractionAPI paywalls, algorithmic feeds, verification products, and ad load shift surplus toward the operator and advertisers—classic extraction on a still-central public square.
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Reddit
3 ExtractionMature platform shifting value toward advertisers, mods as unpaid labor, and product changes that prioritize engagement over quality.