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   Elena Rossini ⁂ (_elena@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Apr-2025 19:12:39 JST Elena Rossini ⁂

   Good morning Fedi friends!

   A mini 🧵 following yesterday's heated reactions to my toot (https://mastodon.social/@_elena/114329716368251856).

   I have the utmost admiration for Carole Cadwalladr's work and advocacy. She's absolutely phenomenal.

   The point I failed to make is that IF EVEN CC - who speaks so eloquently against the Broligarchy - ends up on bro-funded social and publishing networks, then we are all in trouble.

   IMHO the tech stack we choose is a form of implicit endorsement. But we can resist.

   (cont' - 1/3)

   • Embed this notice
     Elena Rossini ⁂ (_elena@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Apr-2025 19:13:10 JST Elena Rossini ⁂

     in reply to

     • Micah Lee
     • LRR

     @lrreynolds thanks! The point I will make is that VC-backed Substack invests a lot of money in marketing / creating the illusion that it's the only easy publishing platform out there. Ghost actually provides a free moving service and Beehiiv has a media collective to help indie journalists.

     Personally I wouldn't use a service that also hosts the likes of Milo Yiannopoulos, Naomi Wolf and countless other problematic publications.

     Another interesting read: https://micahflee.com/not-only-is-substack-right-wing-broligarchy-garbage-its-way-more-expensive-than-ghost/ by @micahflee

   • Embed this notice
     Elena Rossini ⁂ (_elena@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Apr-2025 19:13:11 JST Elena Rossini ⁂

     in reply to

     • LRR

     @lrreynolds thank you for your note. I'm planning to write about this very problem in this week's issue of #TheFutureIsFederated.

     I actually used Substack for 1+ year and moved my newsletters away in Jan 2024 when its owners refused to remove or demonetize Nazi content.

     There is evidence that VC-backed Substack is on the highway to enshittification. An interesting read: https://radoncnotes.com/2024/09/26/enshittification-of-substack/

     The pivot to video reminds me of how Facebook did the same with publishers - and it didn't go well

   • Embed this notice
     LRR (lrreynolds@mstdn.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Apr-2025 19:13:11 JST LRR

     in reply to

     @_elena
     I look forward to your article. My key point is that with the US hurtling towards dictatorship and the mainstream press being cowed, many voices of the opposition have rushed to SS because it provides a ready made vehicle to build a following, be heard and monetize. It’s a trap but most of these people don’t get that and clearly there aren’t any obvious alternatives in the open source world that have been packaged well enough to be used by a non technical individual.

     Cadu Silva :verified: repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     LRR (lrreynolds@mstdn.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Apr-2025 19:13:12 JST LRR

     in reply to

     @_elena agree with your statement. Unfortunately Substack has now achieved a sweet spot for those who want to reach audiences with video content. Many ex journalists and voices of the political opposition have succumbed to the ready made tool without considering the medium to long term consequences. SS is reaping $ while collecting valuable data for surveillance. If the opposition gets too potent there will be repercussions and some may be cut-off. We need OS alternatives now…