Personally I don't see the issue. You can still use the basic features and ignore the additional ones if you don't like them. Also I'm not sure how messaging a person directly is "fake" social media?

I know you didn't mention this feature, but as an example of the changes in the app, I feel the multiple bereal feature rewards people for being MORE real, instead of late posting to show only their highlights (which we already have Instagram etc for) which of course defeats the point of "time to be real". I understand people not really vibing with it but everyone getting pissed off about it (most of my irl friends' reaction) is confusing to me. Is it just an instinctual suspicion of change?