Taylor Lorenz
Substack could embrace the federated model of social media, which platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, and even Threads leverage. In so many ways, the Fediverse embodies the ideals that Substack was founded on: giving users a platform-agnostic connection to their audience, allowing for audience portability, eliminating top-down moderation, and putting users back in control of their online experience. https://www.usermag.co/p/how-substacks-follow-feature-betrays
How Substack's follow feature betrays its original mission

The follow button is a powerful discovery tool that is proven to help writers gain subscribers. It's also a step away from creator ownership.

User Mag
Oct 28, 2024 at 5:00pmWeb
Show threadClaude GohierOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz
I love federation, but I'm not sure Substack is a platform we should be supporting.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/substack-extremism-nazi-white-supremacy-newsletters/676156/

https://inkstickmedia.com/how-deep-does-substacks-far-right-problem-run-really/

Substack Has a Nazi Problem

The newsletter platform’s lax content moderation creates an opening for white nationalists eager to get their message out.

The Atlantic
Show threadVirginia HollowayOct 28, 2024
@claudegohier @taylorlorenz Exactly. What’s up with so many Substack content creators not caring about the Nazi problem?
Show threadAnuj AhoojaOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz I too have been saying this for months! Thank you for using your platform to spread this message, and I hope you choose a new home soon.

https://www.augment.ink/ghost-substack-discoverability/

NB: Ghost just announced bridging their ActivityPub efforts to AT as well 🙂

Ghost is about to beat Substack in Discoverability

Ghost's Fediverse integration will have larger implications for the newsletter landscape. Namely, I think this will eventually bring the slow death of another social silo: Substack.

augment
Show threadTaylor LorenzOct 28, 2024
@quillmatiq Oh wow!! I wish I knew this I would have included a line. Great piece
Show threadAnuj AhoojaOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz Thank you! It literally just happened this weekend, so it's still fresh - here's their announcement for future reference: https://activitypub.ghost.org/bugs-breakthroughs-and-bluesky-2/
Bugs, breakthroughs and BlueSky

What is the city but the people? True, the people are the city.

Building ActivityPub
Show threadkeschi   ΘOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz Substack can go fuck itself to be quite honest
Show threadJustin ⏚Oct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz I was saying it before it was cool (but I am glad to see others saying it!): https://www.staygrounded.online/p/its-a-stay-grounded-newsletter?open=false#%C2%A7substack-takes-a-page-from-the-ticketmaster-playbook
It's a Stay Grounded Newsletter!

Extra! Extra!

Stay Grounded
Show threadTaylor LorenzOct 28, 2024
@JustinH great minds!!
Show threadDave Winer ☕️Oct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz

they should also let writers use their favorite editor. ever notice how all these systems make writers use their editor.

Show threadTaylor LorenzOct 28, 2024
@davew amen!
Show thread@infosec_jcp 🐈🃏 done differentlyOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz @davew

Everyone be just cuts and pastes FROM their favorite editor TO the app or web site anyways. 😆

Show threadJohn O'NolanOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz This is exactly what we're building :) looking forward to giving you a demo
Show threadTaylor LorenzOct 28, 2024
@johnonolan I just saw this info in this link and wish I realized earlier or I would have mentioned!! Look forward to chatting, I am a fan of what u guys are doing! https://www.augment.ink/ghost-substack-discoverability/
Ghost is about to beat Substack in Discoverability

Ghost's Fediverse integration will have larger implications for the newsletter landscape. Namely, I think this will eventually bring the slow death of another social silo: Substack.

augment
Show threadJohn O'NolanOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz Email should already be in your inbox 🤗 let me know if it didn't make it
Show threadRichard MacManusOct 28, 2024
@johnonolan @taylorlorenz
@quillmatiq spreading the gospel, well done!
Show threadAnuj AhoojaOct 28, 2024
@ricmac @johnonolan @taylorlorenz The world needs to see that there's a better way forward!
Show threadSeth is PissedOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz @johnonolan

Make the switch. Go Ghost!

Show threadSeth is PissedOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz to entice you to Ghost I added UserMag to my recommendations list. LOL Like that matters LOL
Show threadFeralRobotsOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz
Right but those are just the ideals they SAY they were founded on. Kind of like "don't be evil." The paramount ideal once there's investment (& which generally remains unstated) is "revenues are Good, higher revenues are Better."

So, yeah: never gonna happen. We all knew this going in, based on who founded Substack & how.

Show threadErnie SmithOct 28, 2024

@taylorlorenz I agree with this. I also think the moment they added a proprietary mobile app was the turning point.

But I also think their messaging exploits the fact that they sold people on a platform you could leave, but became a platform where they put a moat around it by adding a lot of features newsletter platforms generally don’t have.

Show threadRyan SingelOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz
Substack is headed the opposite way. Notice how the previous link in emails to read online that went to your site now is a link to read in the Substack app
Show threadSeth is PissedOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz Move to Ghost and I'll sub.
Show threadSeth is PissedOct 28, 2024
@taylorlorenz Will not sub to anything on Substack.
Show threadjz.tuskOct 31, 2024

@taylorlorenz

You should at least mention the Na*is.