Yeah it was more of a 'me thinking out loud' thing really about what I think might drive people to go to a website in a repetitive way (ie, more than just once)
Would you say under 30s are more likely to use social media on the Internet than actual, traditional, websites. That's generally what I think, I've seen people who just spend their entire time online on Instagram and Facebook and never venture outside of those!
My dissertation was about meaningful visits to websites, not necessary repeat visits but ones which would have achieved the user goal. Under 30s are more likely to use social media and go to websites from social media links, but only in certain circumstances - these include specific profiles, the blue tick verification process (more likely to go through a verified profile), and not using short links. Some of the generation are always on SM, some don't have it at all - it depends on them as a person, their social situation, and their job. TO put it in context, I'm 33. I've been coming on here far too long, but I was in my 20s when I came over. I do like SM (more to fan through it than actually post things - there's some ridiculous people!), but I'd prefer visiting a website through a search than social media.
There has to be that niche to keep people going back, whether that be special offers on an Ecomm website, new posts on a blog, or a regular type of post (one blog I love does Travel Thursday, where they dissect a place they have been previously and give a very honest review - it isn't a travel blog but it is nice to read up about it).
The things i discovered people don't like are promoted posts and adverts, which many of the subjects described as "shitposting", like the MBers you described earlier. Nobody wants a biased review of something someone gave them for free or even paid them to review, as you know it is just going to be lies. Could be the worst thing in the world and they will still give it a big thumbs up because that's what the promoter expects.
There's been a bit of a growing trend against some social media due, in part, to the fakery of it all. Posting things about your life being wonderful through a filter and it just doesn't reflect what is actually going on.