Hunter Storm ™

 

Social Media Platforms Just Websites and Why That Matters

Many people think of social media as something separate from the rest of the internet, but at the end of the day, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok are not separate. Social media platforms are just websites.

Understanding this changes how you interact with them, how much control you realize they have, and why depending on them too much can limit your online experience. You may also want to dive into The Difference Between a Website, an App, and a Platform. This will help you understand more about why social media are just websites.

 

Social Media Platforms Are Just Websites

At their core, social media platforms are just websites that allow users to create and share content. The difference is that they:

• Require user accounts to post or interact
• Use algorithms to filter what content you see
• Store massive amounts of user data
• Have centralized control over what gets promoted or removed

 

This means that social media platforms are not neutral public spaces. They are privately owned websites that control your experience.

 

Why This Matters

Most people don’t realize they are renting space on someone else’s website rather than owning their online presence. This leads to several major issues.

 

You Don’t Own Your Content or Audience

When you post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you don’t own your content the same way you would on a personal blog or website. If the platform:

• Deletes your account: You lose all your posts and followers.
• Changes the algorithm: Fewer people see your content.
• Shuts down entirely: Everything disappears (think of MySpace, Vine, or Google+).

 

Solution: If you create content, consider having your own website, blog, or email list where you have full control.

 

Algorithms Decide What You See

Unlike traditional websites where you choose what to read, social media chooses for you through its algorithm. This means:

• You don’t see every post from accounts you follow.
• What you see is based on engagement, not accuracy.
• Content that keeps you scrolling (even if misleading) gets boosted.

 

Solution: If you want to stay informed, go directly to news websites, blogs, and resources outside of social media filters.

 

Social Media is Not the Internet

Some people use social media as if it’s the entire internet. They only:

• Search for news on Facebook
• Network on LinkedIn
• Watch videos on TikTok

 

The problem? You are limiting yourself to what these companies allow you to see. Meanwhile, the internet is full of resources outside of social media:

• Independent news sites
• Forums (Reddit, Quora, niche communities)
• Research databases
• Blogs and personal websites

 

Solution: Make a habit of searching for information on Google, DuckDuckGo, or directly on reputable websites instead of relying only on social media feeds.

 

What Can You Do to Take Back Control?

• Use social media as a tool, not your entire internet experience.
• Bookmark your favorite websites so you don’t rely on an algorithm to show them.
• Build your own presence on a website or blog where you control your content.
• Diversify your information sources. Don’t rely on one app to tell you everything.

 

The bottom line: Social media isn’t magic. It’s just a website, one you don’t control. The more you understand this, the better you can take charge of your online experience.

Remember: The Internet Is More Than Just Social Media.

 

---

Glossary

Algorithm: A system used by social media to decide what content appears in your feed.

Centralized Control: When a platform has total authority over what content is allowed or restricted.

Engagement: Likes, comments, shares are used by social media to rank content.

Filter Bubble: When algorithms only show content that aligns with your beliefs, limiting exposure to diverse opinions.

Platform: A website or app that allows users to create and share content (e.g., Facebook, YouTube).

 

---

Unlock the Secrets of the Digital World with Our Engaging Articles

Connect with Hunter Storm on social media to stay updated on her activities and publications.

Dive into our lively collection of articles designed to boost your digital savvy and cybersecurity know-how. From demystifying the differences between websites and platforms to mastering online privacy, our series offers practical insights to help you navigate the internet like a pro.

• How to Avoid a Social Media Ban
• Inside the Invisible Battlefield | Why Hunter Storm Created a Cybersecurity Learning Series
• Outsmart the Machine | Cybersecurity Guide for Humans
• Protecting Yourself from Online Scams | A Comprehensive Guide
• The Basics of Online Privacy

 

---

About the Author | Hunter Storm: Technology Executive, Global Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker

 

CISO | Advisory Board Member | Strategic Policy & Intelligence Advisor | SOC Black Ops Team | QED-C TAC Relationship Leader | Systems Architect | Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator | Cyber-Physical-Psychological Hybrid Threat Expert | Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage

 

Background

Hunter Storm is a veteran Fortune 100 Chief Information Security Officer (CISO); Advisory Board Member; Strategic Policy and Intelligence Advisor; SOC Black Ops Team Member; QED-C TAC Relationship Leader; Systems Architect; Risk Assessor; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator; Cyber-Physical-Psychological (Cyber-Phys-Psy) Hybrid Threat Expert; and Keynote Speaker with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, and human behavior. Explore more in her Profile and Career Highlights.

Drawing on decades of experience in global Fortune 100 enterprises, including Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, and American Express; aerospace and high-tech manufacturing leaders such as Alcoa and Special Devices (SDI) / Daicel Safety Systems (DSS); and leading technology services firms such as CompuCom, she guides organizations through complex technical, strategic, and operational challenges.

 

Global Expert and Subject Matter Expert (SME) | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Strategic Intelligence

Hunter Storm is a globally recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, quantum technology, intelligence, strategy, and emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) as defined by NATO and other international frameworks.

A recognized SME with top-tier expert networks including GLG (Top 1%), AlphaSights, and Third Bridge, Hunter Storm advises Board Members, CEOs, CTOs, CISOs, Founders, and Senior Executives across technology, finance, and consulting sectors. Her insights have shaped policy, strategy, and high-risk decision-making at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and human-technical threat surfaces.

 

Bridging Technical Mastery and Operational Agility

Hunter Storm combines technical mastery with real-world operational resilience in high-stakes environments. She builds and protects systems that often align with defense priorities, but serve critical industries and public infrastructure. She combines first-hand; hands-on; real-world cross-domain expertise in risk assessment, security, and ethical governance; and field-tested theoretical research with a proven track record in high-stakes environments that demand both technical acumen and strategic foresight.

 

Projects | Research and Development (R&D) | Frameworks

Hunter Storm is the creator of The Storm Project | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and the Future of Intelligence, the largest AI research initiative in history.

Hunter Storm pioneered Hacking Humans | The Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering, introducing foundational concepts that have profoundly shaped modern human-centric security disciplines, including behavioral security, cognitive defense, human risk modeling, red teaming, social engineering, psychological operations (PsyOps), and biohacking. It continues to inform the practice and theory of cybersecurity today, adopted by governments, enterprises, and global security communities.

Hunter Storm also pioneered the first global forensic mapping of digital repression architecture, suppression, and censorship through her project Viewpoint Discrimination by Design | The First Global Forensic Mapping of Digital Repression Architecture, monitoring platform accountability and digital suppression worldwide.

 

Achievements and Awards

Hunter Storm is a Mensa member and recipient of the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting her enduring influence on AI, cybersecurity, quantum, technology, strategy, and global security.

She is a distinguished member of the Industry Advisory Board at Texas A&M School of Computer Science, where she advises on curricula and strategic initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technology.

Hunter Storm is a trusted contributor to ANSI X9, FS-ISAC, NIST, and QED-C, shaping policy, standards, and strategy at the highest levels.

 

Hunter Storm | The Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage

Hunter Storm is known for solving problems most won’t touch. She combines technical mastery, operational agility, and strategic foresight to protect critical assets and shape the future at the intersection of technology, strategy, and high-risk decision-making.

Hunter Storm reframes human-technical threat surfaces to expose vulnerabilities others miss, delivering the ultimate asymmetric advantage.

Discover Hunter Storm’s full Professional Profile and Career Highlights.

 

Confidential Contact

Contact Hunter Storm for: Consultations, engagements, board memberships, leadership roles, policy advisory, legal strategy, expert witness, or unconventional problems that require highly unconventional solutions.

 

 

Securing the Future | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum computing, innovation, risk management, hybrid threats, security. Hunter Storm (“The Fourth Option”) is here. Let’s get to work.