[dansiemens]

What you’re describing is early Facebook. Your feed was only from your 1st degree connections. Content mattered because it was from people you cared about (and inherently knew, because users wouldn’t accept friend requests from people they didn't know). It really was the pinnacle of social media.

[ErikBjare]

Wasn't this Instagram early on too? I think many social networks start off like this, but then either grow out of it and/or "sell out".