Social media won because it is better and more profitable for the producer/site owner.

It is objectively worse for the consumer:

* Algorithms that push content the user didn't ask for/dark patterns

* Prioritizes low-attention span/doomscrolling

* Magnifies the most virulent outrage-driven content, often by the very people that commit the outrage, and profits from that outrage

Social media as currently implemented by everyone is a cancer.