New_ Public
@newpublic.org
We’re a nonprofit R&D lab that’s reimagining social media. Join us in building digital public spaces that connect people, embrace pluralism, and build community. newpublic.org
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🇨🇦 How Canadians are fighting for digital independence
Gander's CEO on decentralization, crowdsourcing, and annexation fears
newpublic.substack.com
What would a 100% Canadian social media platform look like?
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
With social media, Big Tech “turned the dial” to make its products as engaging (and profitable) as possible — while ignoring or downplaying safety.
Now we’re seeing the consequences of that attitude in AI.
Now we’re seeing the consequences of that attitude in AI.
What OpenAI Did When ChatGPT Users Lost Touch With Reality
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
With social media, Big Tech “turned the dial” to make its products as engaging (and profitable) as possible — while ignoring or downplaying safety.
Now we’re seeing the consequences of that attitude in AI.
Now we’re seeing the consequences of that attitude in AI.
Social media researcher @taliastroud.bsky.social (New_ Public and @engagingnews.bsky.social) presents our new nationwide poll results on how Americans really connect with their neighbors online — and the surprising gaps that deserve more attention.
Watch here 📹
Watch here 📹
The Local Connection Crisis: New Data on What Communities Need
YouTube video by New_ Public
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Social media researcher @taliastroud.bsky.social (New_ Public and @engagingnews.bsky.social) presents our new nationwide poll results on how Americans really connect with their neighbors online — and the surprising gaps that deserve more attention.
Watch here 📹
Watch here 📹
“The business model of these companies is to extract human attention from our brains like gold from a mine, and to convert it into ad revenue. They call these feeds ‘for you,’ but it’s not for you. It’s for them.”
jackconte.bsky.social summing it up in a nutshell 💥
jackconte.bsky.social summing it up in a nutshell 💥
I’m Building an Algorithm That Doesn’t Rot Your Brain
YouTube video by New York Times Opinion
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
“The business model of these companies is to extract human attention from our brains like gold from a mine, and to convert it into ad revenue. They call these feeds ‘for you,’ but it’s not for you. It’s for them.”
jackconte.bsky.social summing it up in a nutshell 💥
jackconte.bsky.social summing it up in a nutshell 💥
The For You Page has cannibalized the feed, and what’s left are big viral moments, your private DMs, and the hollow middle.
A social media manager’s perspective on how the social internet works now, and to think about getting attention online, from @milkkarten.bsky.social.
A social media manager’s perspective on how the social internet works now, and to think about getting attention online, from @milkkarten.bsky.social.
Post-social media
It's time to rethink what the feed is for.
www.milkkarten.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The For You Page has cannibalized the feed, and what’s left are big viral moments, your private DMs, and the hollow middle.
A social media manager’s perspective on how the social internet works now, and to think about getting attention online, from @milkkarten.bsky.social.
A social media manager’s perspective on how the social internet works now, and to think about getting attention online, from @milkkarten.bsky.social.
According to @benjaminwaldman.bsky.social, its perfect time to build a Canadian social media app.
With tensions high, Canadians want their voices and values to be represented online, and not be drowned out or ignored by American algorithms.
They've raised more than 1.3M CAD to make that happen.
With tensions high, Canadians want their voices and values to be represented online, and not be drowned out or ignored by American algorithms.
They've raised more than 1.3M CAD to make that happen.
Why We’re Inviting Canadians to Co-Own Gander Social
Own a Part of Gander TL;DR A few weeks ago, we took a deep breath and quietly launched an equity crowdfunding campaign: https://frontfundr.com/gandersocial It’s been a wild ride since. After hitting o...
gandersocial.ca
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
According to @benjaminwaldman.bsky.social, its perfect time to build a Canadian social media app.
With tensions high, Canadians want their voices and values to be represented online, and not be drowned out or ignored by American algorithms.
They've raised more than 1.3M CAD to make that happen.
With tensions high, Canadians want their voices and values to be represented online, and not be drowned out or ignored by American algorithms.
They've raised more than 1.3M CAD to make that happen.
RESEARCH: What happens when teens steward their own digital spaces?
A study of Discord servers run by and for teens found that moderators not only gained valuable skills, but were better at maintaining engaging, healthy spaces for their peers.
The kids will be alright 🥹
dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
A study of Discord servers run by and for teens found that moderators not only gained valuable skills, but were better at maintaining engaging, healthy spaces for their peers.
The kids will be alright 🥹
dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
![Quote from P4 in italic serif font on white background: "I think that people are most effectively able to moderate if they actually care about the community ... [It's also very important] to be a role model to the community. When you're more invested, the community is going to respect you more and listen to you more than someone who has absolutely no idea how the game works. They're obviously not going to listen to what they have to say."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hheutzl4mxedshsz4yqek5tt/bafkreigmllhfe2hecejbn7aazly5hksvhpowv5zw4hiacz3jw265x7wbvu@jpeg)
![Quote from P2 in italic serif font on white background: "I think that through Discord, there can be meaningful conversations on relationships, teaching people, connections, that aren't found in schools ... [Our Discord community is] providing that space to be able to [talk to others] in a way that's like, a healthy space. If anything goes wrong, there's actually something [that's going to be] done about it instead of just like being like, 'It happens.' ...[The fact] that [disagreements] are communicated about, and the respect, those are key factors to our group."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hheutzl4mxedshsz4yqek5tt/bafkreieybdrvhbw3egx4ugh6mxbbr2fkvrrwqk2y6razhqbdmncveqbgvi@jpeg)
![Quote from P4 in italic serif font on white background: "Moderation has helped me understand a lot about how to deal with people, especially with regards to managing conflicts, resolving them, working with different types of people [from around the world] ... It has basically helped me a lot in terms of the sort of soft skills that you need to run a community smoothly."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hheutzl4mxedshsz4yqek5tt/bafkreifn3ulmdgz32ukb7apwkhwtjcjrhkpt3ukctcsmbjf7qojqtveu7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
RESEARCH: What happens when teens steward their own digital spaces?
A study of Discord servers run by and for teens found that moderators not only gained valuable skills, but were better at maintaining engaging, healthy spaces for their peers.
The kids will be alright 🥹
dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
A study of Discord servers run by and for teens found that moderators not only gained valuable skills, but were better at maintaining engaging, healthy spaces for their peers.
The kids will be alright 🥹
dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
New social platform @gandersocial.bsky.social is not only using Bluesky’s ATProtocol to build a feed without ads, they’re also keeping user data within in Canada and operating under Canadian law.
This is next-level, unprecedented data sovereignty.
This is next-level, unprecedented data sovereignty.
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New social platform @gandersocial.bsky.social is not only using Bluesky’s ATProtocol to build a feed without ads, they’re also keeping user data within in Canada and operating under Canadian law.
This is next-level, unprecedented data sovereignty.
This is next-level, unprecedented data sovereignty.
We are thrilled to be a small part of a much larger movement for designing and building digital spaces that feel like the parks, neighborhoods, and libraries we love.
Check out our revised and expanded Healthy Digital Spaces Starter Pack, and let us know who we’re missing!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Check out our revised and expanded Healthy Digital Spaces Starter Pack, and let us know who we’re missing!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
November 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
We are thrilled to be a small part of a much larger movement for designing and building digital spaces that feel like the parks, neighborhoods, and libraries we love.
Check out our revised and expanded Healthy Digital Spaces Starter Pack, and let us know who we’re missing!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Check out our revised and expanded Healthy Digital Spaces Starter Pack, and let us know who we’re missing!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Meta has been putting profit over people for a long time.
Last year they planned to collect $16 BILLION in revenue from fraudulent, scammy ads.
“Meta’s own research suggests its products have become a pillar of the global fraud economy,” writes @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social.
Last year they planned to collect $16 BILLION in revenue from fraudulent, scammy ads.
“Meta’s own research suggests its products have become a pillar of the global fraud economy,” writes @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social.
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Meta has been putting profit over people for a long time.
Last year they planned to collect $16 BILLION in revenue from fraudulent, scammy ads.
“Meta’s own research suggests its products have become a pillar of the global fraud economy,” writes @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social.
Last year they planned to collect $16 BILLION in revenue from fraudulent, scammy ads.
“Meta’s own research suggests its products have become a pillar of the global fraud economy,” writes @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social.
“Are you sure?” “Still scrolling?”
Maybe building in pauses and prompts can supply much needed friction, but is it enough to fully counteract Big Tech’s engagement machine? These solutions are certainly a good first step.
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/the-intern...
Maybe building in pauses and prompts can supply much needed friction, but is it enough to fully counteract Big Tech’s engagement machine? These solutions are certainly a good first step.
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/the-intern...
November 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“Are you sure?” “Still scrolling?”
Maybe building in pauses and prompts can supply much needed friction, but is it enough to fully counteract Big Tech’s engagement machine? These solutions are certainly a good first step.
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/the-intern...
Maybe building in pauses and prompts can supply much needed friction, but is it enough to fully counteract Big Tech’s engagement machine? These solutions are certainly a good first step.
techandsocialcohesion.substack.com/p/the-intern...
@jennydeluxe.bsky.social’s “good neighboring” is just as essential and powerful in digital spaces as it is in physical ones.
As our online and offline lives intertwine, well-designed digital spaces could help us tap into what's happening around us and deepen our connection with our communities.
As our online and offline lives intertwine, well-designed digital spaces could help us tap into what's happening around us and deepen our connection with our communities.
How to Be a Good Neighbor
what you can do vs what you will do
jennydeluxe.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
@jennydeluxe.bsky.social’s “good neighboring” is just as essential and powerful in digital spaces as it is in physical ones.
As our online and offline lives intertwine, well-designed digital spaces could help us tap into what's happening around us and deepen our connection with our communities.
As our online and offline lives intertwine, well-designed digital spaces could help us tap into what's happening around us and deepen our connection with our communities.
The next major dating app is … Facebook?
Facebook boosting local, personal services like Dating does feel like a full circle moment for the platform, because at the end of the day, wasn’t connection the reason most of us joined in the first place?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/t...
Facebook boosting local, personal services like Dating does feel like a full circle moment for the platform, because at the end of the day, wasn’t connection the reason most of us joined in the first place?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/t...
November 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The next major dating app is … Facebook?
Facebook boosting local, personal services like Dating does feel like a full circle moment for the platform, because at the end of the day, wasn’t connection the reason most of us joined in the first place?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/t...
Facebook boosting local, personal services like Dating does feel like a full circle moment for the platform, because at the end of the day, wasn’t connection the reason most of us joined in the first place?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/t...
Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing…
“Without changing the underlying incentive structures of the tools — namely, the funding, ownership, governance, and business models — tech entrepreneurs are simply dressing up old approaches in new clothes.”
connectivetissue.substack.com/p/connection...
“Without changing the underlying incentive structures of the tools — namely, the funding, ownership, governance, and business models — tech entrepreneurs are simply dressing up old approaches in new clothes.”
connectivetissue.substack.com/p/connection...
November 17, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing…
“Without changing the underlying incentive structures of the tools — namely, the funding, ownership, governance, and business models — tech entrepreneurs are simply dressing up old approaches in new clothes.”
connectivetissue.substack.com/p/connection...
“Without changing the underlying incentive structures of the tools — namely, the funding, ownership, governance, and business models — tech entrepreneurs are simply dressing up old approaches in new clothes.”
connectivetissue.substack.com/p/connection...
What would a 100% Canadian social media platform look like?
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
🇨🇦 How Canadians are fighting for digital independence
Gander's CEO on decentralization, crowdsourcing, and annexation fears
newpublic.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
What would a 100% Canadian social media platform look like?
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.
A new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey finds that almost a third of the Americans who get their news on social media are relying on influencers & content creators.
How should those outlets, including legacy media orgs, adapt and move forward?
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-creator...
How should those outlets, including legacy media orgs, adapt and move forward?
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-creator...
November 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey finds that almost a third of the Americans who get their news on social media are relying on influencers & content creators.
How should those outlets, including legacy media orgs, adapt and move forward?
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-creator...
How should those outlets, including legacy media orgs, adapt and move forward?
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news-creator...
As @damonberes.com writes in @theatlantic.com, Big Tech companies are basically porting over their social media business models into generative AI.
Once again, they’re betting we will trade our attention and data for the promise of connection.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Once again, they’re betting we will trade our attention and data for the promise of connection.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
November 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
As @damonberes.com writes in @theatlantic.com, Big Tech companies are basically porting over their social media business models into generative AI.
Once again, they’re betting we will trade our attention and data for the promise of connection.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Once again, they’re betting we will trade our attention and data for the promise of connection.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
A rare behind-the-curtain peek at how a platform is cataloguing and interpreting your activity.
Mike Cohen explains Substack’s algorithm is changing the question from “Who is this reader?” to “Where are they in their journey right now, and what comes next?” while avoiding filter bubbles.
Mike Cohen explains Substack’s algorithm is changing the question from “Who is this reader?” to “Where are they in their journey right now, and what comes next?” while avoiding filter bubbles.
How the Substack feed is learning to understand your reading journey
Modeling sequences of user behavior makes discovery feel alive
mrkcohen.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A rare behind-the-curtain peek at how a platform is cataloguing and interpreting your activity.
Mike Cohen explains Substack’s algorithm is changing the question from “Who is this reader?” to “Where are they in their journey right now, and what comes next?” while avoiding filter bubbles.
Mike Cohen explains Substack’s algorithm is changing the question from “Who is this reader?” to “Where are they in their journey right now, and what comes next?” while avoiding filter bubbles.
On Nov. 19th, we’re co-hosting Eurosky Live in Berlin!
Europeans need control over European social media infrastructure, and next week we’re gathering entrepreneurs, technologists, policy-makers, and others towards developing a new, public interest digital ecosystem for Europe.
Europeans need control over European social media infrastructure, and next week we’re gathering entrepreneurs, technologists, policy-makers, and others towards developing a new, public interest digital ecosystem for Europe.
Eurosky Live - 19 November, Berlin — eurosky
Our first Eurosky Live conference will take place in Berlin on 19 November 2025, showcasing a public interest social media ecosystem built and governed in Europe.
www.eurosky.social
November 12, 2025 at 5:45 PM
On Nov. 19th, we’re co-hosting Eurosky Live in Berlin!
Europeans need control over European social media infrastructure, and next week we’re gathering entrepreneurs, technologists, policy-makers, and others towards developing a new, public interest digital ecosystem for Europe.
Europeans need control over European social media infrastructure, and next week we’re gathering entrepreneurs, technologists, policy-makers, and others towards developing a new, public interest digital ecosystem for Europe.
Reposted by New_ Public
We’re delighted to welcome Catherine Tait as a speaker at #EuroskyLive. With decades of leadership across public media and digital innovation, Catherine brings a unique perspective on how decentralised ecosystems can strengthen democracy and public space online.
#DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanTech
#DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanTech
October 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We’re delighted to welcome Catherine Tait as a speaker at #EuroskyLive. With decades of leadership across public media and digital innovation, Catherine brings a unique perspective on how decentralised ecosystems can strengthen democracy and public space online.
#DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanTech
#DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanTech
People value local news not only for making everyday decisions, but also for strengthening their communities.
Press Forward: For local news orgs looking to tap into that energy, a key question to explore is whether online conversation can boost trust and help people find information they need.
Press Forward: For local news orgs looking to tap into that energy, a key question to explore is whether online conversation can boost trust and help people find information they need.
Don’t dwell on “democracy,” and other new findings about how to market local news
"Here’s the paradox: 93% of people believe reliable local news is necessary for democracy, yet many of these same people react negatively to explicit 'democracy' messaging."
www.niemanlab.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
People value local news not only for making everyday decisions, but also for strengthening their communities.
Press Forward: For local news orgs looking to tap into that energy, a key question to explore is whether online conversation can boost trust and help people find information they need.
Press Forward: For local news orgs looking to tap into that energy, a key question to explore is whether online conversation can boost trust and help people find information they need.
Building for communities, not profits! 💪
Pumped about the launch of Bonfire, a new microblogging platform that is fully interoperable and modular so people can pick and choose the features that work best for their community.
bonfirenetworks.org
Pumped about the launch of Bonfire, a new microblogging platform that is fully interoperable and modular so people can pick and choose the features that work best for their community.
bonfirenetworks.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Building for communities, not profits! 💪
Pumped about the launch of Bonfire, a new microblogging platform that is fully interoperable and modular so people can pick and choose the features that work best for their community.
bonfirenetworks.org
Pumped about the launch of Bonfire, a new microblogging platform that is fully interoperable and modular so people can pick and choose the features that work best for their community.
bonfirenetworks.org
!
Someone from the audience told them that BlueSky has become very popular in New Zealand because Musk killed a widely loved national Secret Santa project that used to run on Twitter.
www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/c...
www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/c...
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
!
Our Local Lab team was excited to share experiments and compare notes at #MozFest in Barcelona this weekend
The researches @sammy.bsky.social and @clockwerks.bsky.social from @newpublic.org who think about how to design healthy digital public spaces, gave a talk about building a social network for local neighborhood communities.
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Our Local Lab team was excited to share experiments and compare notes at #MozFest in Barcelona this weekend
Reposted by New_ Public
One of the top reasons I love building at @newpublic.org is all the research, the core of how they work. SO MUCH RESEARCH. This work, led by @taliastroud.bsky.social (hook 'em horns) has already directly influenced decisions we've made with our new local social platform. Sign up and check it out.
We’ve got one of the most in-depth surveys on how Americans connect with neighbors online — what works, what doesn't, what they want instead.
These are essential insights for anyone thinking about local communities.
Join us 11/20 when @taliastroud.bsky.social & @eli.bsky.social share the data
These are essential insights for anyone thinking about local communities.
Join us 11/20 when @taliastroud.bsky.social & @eli.bsky.social share the data
The Local Connection Crisis: New Data on What Communities Need · Zoom · Luma
Now we know what we've long suspected: People really use and rely on their local Facebook groups, Nextdoor neighborhoods, and WhatsApp group chats, but they…
luma.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the top reasons I love building at @newpublic.org is all the research, the core of how they work. SO MUCH RESEARCH. This work, led by @taliastroud.bsky.social (hook 'em horns) has already directly influenced decisions we've made with our new local social platform. Sign up and check it out.
Like many small nonprofits, we’ve been experimenting with using AI tools so that we can focus on our mission of reinforcing human connections, conversations, and communities.
We remain mindful of the harms and risks of AI, and have developed a set of guiding principles grounded in our values.
We remain mindful of the harms and risks of AI, and have developed a set of guiding principles grounded in our values.
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Like many small nonprofits, we’ve been experimenting with using AI tools so that we can focus on our mission of reinforcing human connections, conversations, and communities.
We remain mindful of the harms and risks of AI, and have developed a set of guiding principles grounded in our values.
We remain mindful of the harms and risks of AI, and have developed a set of guiding principles grounded in our values.