What is one way to improve online social networking?

I think what we are learning is that giving users more freedom to say or post what they want and exposing it equally in a public space is actually bad for a sense of community spirit. And once that direction is even slightly negative, it will devolve rapidly. And this is simply because the people hungriest for attention realize it's a shortcut to just be shocking and destructive rather than build up trust.

I see the future of social networking is in working out an algorithm that promotes content from real world contacts and heavily curates posts from anyone you don't know or that your circle does not know.

being honest

Confidence

Why does it need improvement? Everyone stare at their phone if they have 2 free minutes already

Stick to the basics.
Keep it simple.
Advertise the site.
Promote it.
Put it on Facebook or YouTube.
Don't censor.
Don't play favorites.
Let people be who they are.