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
Our friends at the @prosocialdesign.bsky.social recently updated the effectiveness of apps for regulating your time spent on social media, like @hankgreen.bsky.social’s Focus Friend, from “tentative” to “convincing” based on new research from Denmark.
www.prosocialdesign.org/library/digi...
www.prosocialdesign.org/library/digi...
January 12, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Our friends at the @prosocialdesign.bsky.social recently updated the effectiveness of apps for regulating your time spent on social media, like @hankgreen.bsky.social’s Focus Friend, from “tentative” to “convincing” based on new research from Denmark.
www.prosocialdesign.org/library/digi...
www.prosocialdesign.org/library/digi...
How did Belfast, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo double down on social infrastructure? By creating a network of …
👐 Havens
🌉 Hubs and
🛹 Hangouts
What would that look like online?
www.gehlpeople.com/projects/soc...
👐 Havens
🌉 Hubs and
🛹 Hangouts
What would that look like online?
www.gehlpeople.com/projects/soc...
January 9, 2026 at 4:37 PM
How did Belfast, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo double down on social infrastructure? By creating a network of …
👐 Havens
🌉 Hubs and
🛹 Hangouts
What would that look like online?
www.gehlpeople.com/projects/soc...
👐 Havens
🌉 Hubs and
🛹 Hangouts
What would that look like online?
www.gehlpeople.com/projects/soc...
To reach a healthy social media ecosystem that serves the public, not billionaires, we’re gonna need a lot of new ideas and tools.
Our friends at @metagov.bsky.social have been funding new governance systems that allow for community agency and value community stewards. More is needed!
Our friends at @metagov.bsky.social have been funding new governance systems that allow for community agency and value community stewards. More is needed!
January 8, 2026 at 7:52 PM
To reach a healthy social media ecosystem that serves the public, not billionaires, we’re gonna need a lot of new ideas and tools.
Our friends at @metagov.bsky.social have been funding new governance systems that allow for community agency and value community stewards. More is needed!
Our friends at @metagov.bsky.social have been funding new governance systems that allow for community agency and value community stewards. More is needed!
Technologist/podcaster @rabble.nz calls Roundabout, our new local community app in closed beta, “the Good Place version of Nextdoor.”
In an interview with Bluesky’s @jay.bsky.team, they talk about how New_ Public is moving from research & critique ➡️ building flourishing digital public spaces.
In an interview with Bluesky’s @jay.bsky.team, they talk about how New_ Public is moving from research & critique ➡️ building flourishing digital public spaces.
January 7, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Technologist/podcaster @rabble.nz calls Roundabout, our new local community app in closed beta, “the Good Place version of Nextdoor.”
In an interview with Bluesky’s @jay.bsky.team, they talk about how New_ Public is moving from research & critique ➡️ building flourishing digital public spaces.
In an interview with Bluesky’s @jay.bsky.team, they talk about how New_ Public is moving from research & critique ➡️ building flourishing digital public spaces.
So much great thinking in @niemanlab.org’s 2026 predictions, especially about the role journalism orgs and practitioners play in local media ecosystems around the country.
Here’s a playlist of great pieces:
Here’s a playlist of great pieces:
January 6, 2026 at 4:41 PM
So much great thinking in @niemanlab.org’s 2026 predictions, especially about the role journalism orgs and practitioners play in local media ecosystems around the country.
Here’s a playlist of great pieces:
Here’s a playlist of great pieces:
We’re signing off for the rest of the year.
From the whole team at New_ Public, hoping the holidays bring you rest, peace, joy, and light.
From the whole team at New_ Public, hoping the holidays bring you rest, peace, joy, and light.
December 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
We’re signing off for the rest of the year.
From the whole team at New_ Public, hoping the holidays bring you rest, peace, joy, and light.
From the whole team at New_ Public, hoping the holidays bring you rest, peace, joy, and light.
We can’t let the frontier AI labs double down on the business incentives that have ruled social media.
New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social writes that AI companions have the potential to trap us in a “synthetic intimacy” doom loop. However:
New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social writes that AI companions have the potential to trap us in a “synthetic intimacy” doom loop. However:
December 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
We can’t let the frontier AI labs double down on the business incentives that have ruled social media.
New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social writes that AI companions have the potential to trap us in a “synthetic intimacy” doom loop. However:
New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social writes that AI companions have the potential to trap us in a “synthetic intimacy” doom loop. However:
The Resonant Computing Manifesto authors, including @komorama.bsky.social and @mmasnick.bsky.social, want to encourage technology that brings out the best in us, feels human, and resonates with our deeper values.
resonantcomputing.org
resonantcomputing.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The Resonant Computing Manifesto authors, including @komorama.bsky.social and @mmasnick.bsky.social, want to encourage technology that brings out the best in us, feels human, and resonates with our deeper values.
resonantcomputing.org
resonantcomputing.org
Let’s talk about one of the most fundamental aspects of social media: ad incentives.
Nothing on social media is by accident. Everything from the “someone liked your post” notification to the algorithms pushing polarizing posts is there to juice engagement, growth, and profit.
Here’s how it works:
Nothing on social media is by accident. Everything from the “someone liked your post” notification to the algorithms pushing polarizing posts is there to juice engagement, growth, and profit.
Here’s how it works:
December 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Let’s talk about one of the most fundamental aspects of social media: ad incentives.
Nothing on social media is by accident. Everything from the “someone liked your post” notification to the algorithms pushing polarizing posts is there to juice engagement, growth, and profit.
Here’s how it works:
Nothing on social media is by accident. Everything from the “someone liked your post” notification to the algorithms pushing polarizing posts is there to juice engagement, growth, and profit.
Here’s how it works:
If you’re interested in the future of the internet, you need to know about MCP — the protocol that may become the way AI agents interface with apps, tools, and information.
Donating MCP to Linux and building a neutral foundation around it, could lead to widespread adoption.
archive.is/WNyFG
Donating MCP to Linux and building a neutral foundation around it, could lead to widespread adoption.
archive.is/WNyFG
December 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
If you’re interested in the future of the internet, you need to know about MCP — the protocol that may become the way AI agents interface with apps, tools, and information.
Donating MCP to Linux and building a neutral foundation around it, could lead to widespread adoption.
archive.is/WNyFG
Donating MCP to Linux and building a neutral foundation around it, could lead to widespread adoption.
archive.is/WNyFG
We’ve also heard from community members who are eager to find out about upcoming local events.
We’re betting that a calendar co-created with care will be more useful and less spammy than the traditional big platform approach of pulling in all events in a certain geographic radius.
We’re betting that a calendar co-created with care will be more useful and less spammy than the traditional big platform approach of pulling in all events in a certain geographic radius.
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We’ve also heard from community members who are eager to find out about upcoming local events.
We’re betting that a calendar co-created with care will be more useful and less spammy than the traditional big platform approach of pulling in all events in a certain geographic radius.
We’re betting that a calendar co-created with care will be more useful and less spammy than the traditional big platform approach of pulling in all events in a certain geographic radius.
Instead of engagement-driven algorithms, human stewards elevate the best of their community.
Stewards can Highlight posts to the homepage, and turn rich conversations into more easily accessible evergreen Guides that don't just get lost in the feed.
Stewards can Highlight posts to the homepage, and turn rich conversations into more easily accessible evergreen Guides that don't just get lost in the feed.
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Instead of engagement-driven algorithms, human stewards elevate the best of their community.
Stewards can Highlight posts to the homepage, and turn rich conversations into more easily accessible evergreen Guides that don't just get lost in the feed.
Stewards can Highlight posts to the homepage, and turn rich conversations into more easily accessible evergreen Guides that don't just get lost in the feed.
We're also experimenting with tools to help nudge people towards prosocial behaviors.
As someone posts, our systems check it against community guidelines and if necessary, give them an opportunity to edit, or request steward review.
Humans are always in the driver’s seat!
newpublic.org/AI-policy
As someone posts, our systems check it against community guidelines and if necessary, give them an opportunity to edit, or request steward review.
Humans are always in the driver’s seat!
newpublic.org/AI-policy
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We're also experimenting with tools to help nudge people towards prosocial behaviors.
As someone posts, our systems check it against community guidelines and if necessary, give them an opportunity to edit, or request steward review.
Humans are always in the driver’s seat!
newpublic.org/AI-policy
As someone posts, our systems check it against community guidelines and if necessary, give them an opportunity to edit, or request steward review.
Humans are always in the driver’s seat!
newpublic.org/AI-policy
Each Roundabout space is organized into different channels, like People & Lore or Help & Recs.
To help ease the burden of organization for both posters and community stewards, automated tools recommend the ones that make the most sense.
To help ease the burden of organization for both posters and community stewards, automated tools recommend the ones that make the most sense.
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Each Roundabout space is organized into different channels, like People & Lore or Help & Recs.
To help ease the burden of organization for both posters and community stewards, automated tools recommend the ones that make the most sense.
To help ease the burden of organization for both posters and community stewards, automated tools recommend the ones that make the most sense.
With Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re reimagining a lot of familiar surfaces and features of “social media.”
Here’s how Roundabout is different:
Let’s dive in! 🧵
Here’s how Roundabout is different:
Let’s dive in! 🧵
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
With Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re reimagining a lot of familiar surfaces and features of “social media.”
Here’s how Roundabout is different:
Let’s dive in! 🧵
Here’s how Roundabout is different:
Let’s dive in! 🧵
Doesn’t it always come down to this?
There are good people working at Big Tech social media companies, and they mean well.
But because of the underlying incentives, nothing is ever allowed to get in the way of profit and growth.
time.com/7336204/meta...
There are good people working at Big Tech social media companies, and they mean well.
But because of the underlying incentives, nothing is ever allowed to get in the way of profit and growth.
time.com/7336204/meta...
December 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Doesn’t it always come down to this?
There are good people working at Big Tech social media companies, and they mean well.
But because of the underlying incentives, nothing is ever allowed to get in the way of profit and growth.
time.com/7336204/meta...
There are good people working at Big Tech social media companies, and they mean well.
But because of the underlying incentives, nothing is ever allowed to get in the way of profit and growth.
time.com/7336204/meta...
What would it look like to move on from Meta?
Comedian Maddy Kelly explains that leaving Instagram won’t be easy, but just like when younger people left Facebook, it IS possible.
(hint: read the comments for real-life examples of people who made the switch!)
youtube.com/shorts/jzvuC...
Comedian Maddy Kelly explains that leaving Instagram won’t be easy, but just like when younger people left Facebook, it IS possible.
(hint: read the comments for real-life examples of people who made the switch!)
youtube.com/shorts/jzvuC...
December 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
What would it look like to move on from Meta?
Comedian Maddy Kelly explains that leaving Instagram won’t be easy, but just like when younger people left Facebook, it IS possible.
(hint: read the comments for real-life examples of people who made the switch!)
youtube.com/shorts/jzvuC...
Comedian Maddy Kelly explains that leaving Instagram won’t be easy, but just like when younger people left Facebook, it IS possible.
(hint: read the comments for real-life examples of people who made the switch!)
youtube.com/shorts/jzvuC...
It’s not just social media apps that can suck you into an addictive doom loop — many modern dating apps have similar features and incentives.
Candice Lim writes for @mozilla.org:
mozilla.substack.com/p/the-issue-...
Candice Lim writes for @mozilla.org:
mozilla.substack.com/p/the-issue-...
December 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It’s not just social media apps that can suck you into an addictive doom loop — many modern dating apps have similar features and incentives.
Candice Lim writes for @mozilla.org:
mozilla.substack.com/p/the-issue-...
Candice Lim writes for @mozilla.org:
mozilla.substack.com/p/the-issue-...
Imagine if librarians could only issue fines. That’s what many online platforms have reduced the job of “moderator” to: punishment.
We think community stewards (as we like to call them) are capable of a ton if they’re supported and empowered — curating info, forging connections, and much more!
We think community stewards (as we like to call them) are capable of a ton if they’re supported and empowered — curating info, forging connections, and much more!
December 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Imagine if librarians could only issue fines. That’s what many online platforms have reduced the job of “moderator” to: punishment.
We think community stewards (as we like to call them) are capable of a ton if they’re supported and empowered — curating info, forging connections, and much more!
We think community stewards (as we like to call them) are capable of a ton if they’re supported and empowered — curating info, forging connections, and much more!
RESEARCH: Can our social media feeds politically polarize us?
Researchers used a browser extension to change users’ exposure to polarizing content, and found significant effects on polarization. However, we don’t know the long term effects.
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
Researchers used a browser extension to change users’ exposure to polarizing content, and found significant effects on polarization. However, we don’t know the long term effects.
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
December 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
RESEARCH: Can our social media feeds politically polarize us?
Researchers used a browser extension to change users’ exposure to polarizing content, and found significant effects on polarization. However, we don’t know the long term effects.
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
Researchers used a browser extension to change users’ exposure to polarizing content, and found significant effects on polarization. However, we don’t know the long term effects.
www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
@pewresearch.org just updated their report on social media use 👀
TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit have grown, but are still used far less than Facebook and Instagram.
See more of Pew’s extensive breakdown of the social media landscape across key demographics.
www.pewresearch.org/internet/202...
TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit have grown, but are still used far less than Facebook and Instagram.
See more of Pew’s extensive breakdown of the social media landscape across key demographics.
www.pewresearch.org/internet/202...
December 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
@pewresearch.org just updated their report on social media use 👀
TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit have grown, but are still used far less than Facebook and Instagram.
See more of Pew’s extensive breakdown of the social media landscape across key demographics.
www.pewresearch.org/internet/202...
TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit have grown, but are still used far less than Facebook and Instagram.
See more of Pew’s extensive breakdown of the social media landscape across key demographics.
www.pewresearch.org/internet/202...
Most online social spaces have either a single feed (Facebook, Nextdoor) or topic-based channels (Discord, Slack)
We’re testing an approach that offers the best of both: when someone creates a post, automated tools suggest relevant channels where it makes the most sense.
We’re testing an approach that offers the best of both: when someone creates a post, automated tools suggest relevant channels where it makes the most sense.
December 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Most online social spaces have either a single feed (Facebook, Nextdoor) or topic-based channels (Discord, Slack)
We’re testing an approach that offers the best of both: when someone creates a post, automated tools suggest relevant channels where it makes the most sense.
We’re testing an approach that offers the best of both: when someone creates a post, automated tools suggest relevant channels where it makes the most sense.
Social media feeds amplify stuff that’s “engaging” (i.e. controversial, polarizing).
On Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re experimenting with Highlights, a feature where trusted stewards curate relevant posts for the community.
Let’s see if they’re better recommenders than algorithms!
On Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re experimenting with Highlights, a feature where trusted stewards curate relevant posts for the community.
Let’s see if they’re better recommenders than algorithms!
December 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Social media feeds amplify stuff that’s “engaging” (i.e. controversial, polarizing).
On Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re experimenting with Highlights, a feature where trusted stewards curate relevant posts for the community.
Let’s see if they’re better recommenders than algorithms!
On Roundabout, our new local community app, we’re experimenting with Highlights, a feature where trusted stewards curate relevant posts for the community.
Let’s see if they’re better recommenders than algorithms!
@slaby.bsky.social interviews New_ Public Co-Director @eli.bsky.social in his new interview newsletter series, The Exchange.
Eli and Michael go deep on Roundabout, local media, the new pope, and much more!
Worth subscribing!
insightsbymurmuration.substack.com/p/building-d...
Eli and Michael go deep on Roundabout, local media, the new pope, and much more!
Worth subscribing!
insightsbymurmuration.substack.com/p/building-d...
December 4, 2025 at 4:16 PM
@slaby.bsky.social interviews New_ Public Co-Director @eli.bsky.social in his new interview newsletter series, The Exchange.
Eli and Michael go deep on Roundabout, local media, the new pope, and much more!
Worth subscribing!
insightsbymurmuration.substack.com/p/building-d...
Eli and Michael go deep on Roundabout, local media, the new pope, and much more!
Worth subscribing!
insightsbymurmuration.substack.com/p/building-d...
Talia also found that stewardship makes a difference for whether people feel like they belong, as well as how people rate their experiences there.
We are building Roundabout to fill those gaps, and we're betting that elevating and supporting community stewards is an important part of that.
We are building Roundabout to fill those gaps, and we're betting that elevating and supporting community stewards is an important part of that.
December 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Talia also found that stewardship makes a difference for whether people feel like they belong, as well as how people rate their experiences there.
We are building Roundabout to fill those gaps, and we're betting that elevating and supporting community stewards is an important part of that.
We are building Roundabout to fill those gaps, and we're betting that elevating and supporting community stewards is an important part of that.