Decoder with Nilay Patel

How to buy a social network, with Tumblr CEO Matt Mullenweg

Dec 13, 2022

In a thought-provoking conversation, Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic and the force behind Tumblr, discusses the intricate challenges of moderating social networks. He highlights the fine line between free speech and safety, particularly after acquiring Tumblr from Verizon. Alex Heath joins the dialogue, shedding light on Twitter's chaotic shifts under Elon Musk. The duo explores the intertwined nature of user engagement, content policies, and the competitive landscape shaping social media today. Expect insights into the future of online communities!

01:42:40

Episode guests

Alex Heath

Matt Mullenweg

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Apple and Google's App Store Moderation Is Night and Day

01:04

The $3 Million Price for Tumblr

03:24

Twitter's layoff / did Stripe let the worst performers go

01:59

Intro

3min

Navigating Tumblr's Evolution

24min

Navigating Competition and Operational Synergies Post-Acquisition

2min

Leadership Transition and Content Moderation

5min

Navigating Tumblr's Content Moderation Challenges

18min

Navigating Social Media Leadership

24min

Navigating the Complexities of Social Network Management

2min

Navigating the App Store: Challenges for Social Networks

4min

Navigating Content Moderation and Monetization

19min

10.

Navigating the Complexities of Social Media Management

3min

We have to talk about Twitter, right? Elon Musk bought it. He’s making all these changes, and he’s realizing that content moderation decisions are quite complicated, especially when the stakes are high.

But talking about Twitter in a vacuum seems wrong. There are lots of other social networks and community-based products, and they all have basically the same problems: some technical (you have to run the service), some political (you have to comply with various laws and platform regulations around the world), and some social (you have to get millions of users to post for free while making sure what they post is good stuff and not bad stuff).

So, we’re doing something a little different this week. First, I’m talking to Matt Mullenweg, who is the CEO of Automattic, which owns WordPress, the blog hosting platform, and Tumblr, the social network, which he purchased from Verizon in 2019. Then, Verge deputy editor Alex Heath and I are going to break down a bunch of what Matt told me and apply it to Twitter to see what we can learn.

Okay, Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Tumblr, followed by Alex Heath. Here we go.

Links:

How WordPress and Tumblr are keeping the internet weird

GPL - General Public License

Verizon is selling Tumblr to WordPress’ owner

Kanye West suspended from Twitter after posting a swastika

‘Martin Scorsese’s lost film’ Goncharov (1973), explained

Yahoo acquires Tumblr in $1.1 billion cash deal, promises 'not to screw it up'

Verizon is selling Tumblr to WordPress’ owner

Turnaround Definition

Welcome to Tumblr. Now Go Away.

Work With Us / Twitter – Automattic