Revolution.Social Social Media Should Be Public Infrastructure (with Ben Cerveny)
Jan 15, 2026
Ben “Neb” Cerveny, designer and president of the Foundation for Public Code, shares insights from his journey, including his role in creating Flickr. He discusses the evolution of social media from community-driven to algorithm-based systems, likening Facebook to fast food in comparison to richer, localized platforms. Cerveny advocates for treating digital spaces as public infrastructure and emphasizes the necessity of governance models that prioritize civic stewardship over shareholder interests. His thoughts on software 'terroir' and inclusivity signal a shift toward more community-focused digital services.
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Flickr Born From A Game And European Design
- Ben “Neb” Cerveny described Flickr's origins as a byproduct of building a collaborative creativity MMO and speaking at European design conferences.
- He and Stuart Butterfield built Flickr around the idea of social objects and human-driven folksonomy before algorithms dominated discovery.
Human Curation Lost To Algorithms
- Flickr used human curation and folksonomy to let communities build discovery and meaning around photos.
- The algorithmic shift (likability sorting) displaced community stewards and turned users into products for advertisers.
Treat Network Services As Infrastructure
- Treat large networked services as public infrastructure once society takes them for granted.
- Either regulate markets to guarantee access or provide the service through public institutions to protect the public good.
