Are Social Media Platforms the Next Dying Malls?

Maybe that’s not as scary as Godzilla destroying Tokyo (again!—yawn) or a cockroach eating Cincinnati. But it proved just as effective.

They cleared out 35 acres in the middle of my ‘hood to build this monstrosity, eliminating historic buildings and scenic park space. But the promised economic benefits never arrived—tenants soon left in the face of shootings, theft, and declining sales.

The mall eventually closed. But 25 years later, that huge wreck still sits in the middle of town—an enduring testimony to idiocy and greed.

I worked in the construction of that mall—it was my summer job at age 18. And I believed the hype. I took pride back then in building a prosperous future for my home town.

My home town is just one example of many. And there are also many “dying malls”—defined as enclosed shopping centers with less than 40% occupancy.

Not long ago, we hoped that these artificial gathering places could be robust, vital replacements for the neighborhoods we tore down. But what I’ve learned is that you pay a heavy price for replacing a real community with a fake one.

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