I lead technology at ProPublica and write speculative fiction. This is a personal account.
Every day, I write about tech, democracy, and society at https://werd.io.
More about me: https://about.werd.io
#indieweb #opensource #journalism #writing #fiction #blogs #blogging #startups #openweb #web #fediverse #socialweb #ethics #product #writingcommunity #philadelphia #sanfrancisco
| Blog / Newsletter | https://werd.io |
| Pronouns | he/him |
| Location | Philadelphia, PA |
| Signal | https://signal.me/#eu/_ehMeopT5JeELrkt2lSk-R0V6d1AsGt_3Q98UOJhgBMTal5EGTdNIbZHB9H9CqBn |
Hey all 👋🏼, Anuj here from @anewsocial, the organization that manages Bridgy Fed.
We recently added a new feature to Bridgy Fed that folks have asked us for [1] - an easy way for admins to automatically bridge their new users and give them custom domain handles on Bluesky. We wanted to take a moment to explain the philosophy behind it, and how we’re trying to do this the right way, keeping consent front-of-mind. 1/10 🧵
People trust people more than brands. What if we rebuilt newsrooms around that truth? Here's a thought experiment: a semi-decentralized model where journalists own their audience, keep most of their revenue, and still get legal, editorial, and platform support. https://werd.io/when-people-trust-people-more-than-brands-the-incubator-newsroom/
A trans woman, forced to compete against men, swims topless in protest
https://www.out.com/gay-athletes/trans-woman-swims-topless-england
When I was little, I thought Wincey Willis was the coolest. On my seventh birthday she read out my birthday card - written on a Christmas card - on the weather. "Seven on the seventh. That must be good luck." I was so happy.
So, this is a deep cut on social media this days, but RIP Wincey, and thank you.
So, confession time: I was recently helping a new client get set up on the Fediverse—guiding them through their first steps into our glorious decentralized galaxy. And seeing it all again through fresh eyes? Reader, it was brutal. So much of what should be table stakes for any social media UX in the year of our Lord 2025 still is missing or deeply broken still. I know progress has been made and a good fight, fought.
So ...
@ben is me.
@ben@werd.io is also me, but posted via my website.
@ben.werdmuller is also me, but on Threads.
@benwerd is also me, but on Bookwyrm.
We should probably figure out this identity thing.
Some of those who work forces
404 Media reveals collaboration between ICE and local policeJust updated my diagram of Trump’s crypto entanglements based on his most recent financial disclosures 😵💫
Full-size image: https://storage.mollywhite.net/trump-family-crypto-projects.png
Disclosures: https://oge.app.box.com/s/k0hxcezgk7j1cyqoue16cillsi9srmfu
Anuj Ahooja
Transgender World
Tim Chambers
Werd I/O
Molly White