Together with Hoon Honing, who went fully into experimental research mode for his graduation project at HvA Creative Business, we started exploring what it actually means to communicate beyond the platforms we’ve all become dependent on. Yes, we mainly mean Meta.
This wasn’t about simply finding another app to post on. It became a bigger question: how do we stay visible, connected, and culturally relevant without relying entirely on algorithms, data extraction, and endless scrolling? Maybe we need to relearn smoke signals. Maybe we should stand on a bucket in the middle of Amsterdam and shout about workshops, exhibitions, and communal dinners. Do newsletters still work, or are people secretly waiting for communication that feels human again?
Over the past months, Hoon researched alternative forms of communication and the psychology behind our social media behavior. The result is an ongoing experiment in offline visibility: sticker campaigns, unexpected encounters, physical traces in the city, and messages you don’t accidentally scroll past but literally run into. It’s slower, messier, and definitely harder than pressing “post”, but also more intentional. And importantly: it allows us to connect without continuously feeding the machinery of big tech. Hoon Honing - Project leaving Meta Sticker campaign Photo by Lisa Schiemann
In the coming period, we’ll share the things we’ve been testing: what works, what fails, and what new forms of connection might emerge when you step outside the algorithm.
If you want to stay up to date in the digital world, you can subscribe to our newsletter or check out our new community channel Mastodon. These are the easiest ways to keep track of what’s happening at Mediamatic.
Wherever you find us, We hope to see you around, you are welcome.