From the New World Chris Best: Substack's Free Speech Revolution
Jan 28, 2025
Chris Best, CEO and co-founder of Substack, is at the forefront of the free speech movement in online media. He discusses the necessity of alternative platforms like Substack amid rising censorship. The conversation delves into the unique challenges creators face and the role of community-driven moderation. Best reflects on the decline of Clubhouse, the influence of AI on content, and the dynamics of status within creative communities. He also envisions Substack’s potential impact on journalism and the importance of nurturing independent voices.
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2017 Media Landscape
- In 2017, legacy media held significant influence, spilling onto Twitter's "blue check" era.
- This created a perceived consensus, limiting diverse perspectives and potentially stifling innovative ideas.
Twitter's Impact on Discourse
- Twitter's structure contributed to mob-like behavior and censorship fears, especially in media.
- A small group could create a false sense of consensus, impacting careers and discourse.
Platform Management Challenges
- Substack's CEO, Chris Best, acknowledges the impossibility of universal platform satisfaction.
- He emphasizes the need for first-principles thinking in platform design and content moderation.