Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you post a photo, send a message, or receive a notification on social media? Modern social platforms rely on a complex combination of databases, APIs, authentication systems, algorithms, and real-time technologies to connect millions of users instantly. This guide explores the core components that power today's social networks and explains how they work together to create the seamless experiences we use every day.

Most social media platforms are built by huge companies with massive teams. Circle started differently — as a project built from a phone with curiosity, experimentation, and consistency.

As big social platforms become noisy and impersonal, niche communities are rising. Here’s why smaller, focused networks are the next big thing.