Tasteland Ep. 70: Meet the Silkers ft. Zane Kind
Nov 26, 2025
Zane Kind, a visionary technologist and artist, is the co-founder and CEO of Silk, a unique blogging platform focused on creative research and subcultures. He discusses the concept of Silk as a community-driven 'Zoomer Facebook,' prioritizing connections over vanity metrics. Zane explains how the platform fosters distinct tastes and identities while curbing isolation through thoughtful design choices. He also delves into the evolving nature of celebrity and community engagement, emphasizing curation as a valid creative expression.
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Design Away From Vanity Metrics
- Remove vanity metrics to reduce performative behavior and make users more comfortable.
- Use connection-based mechanics that surface related media trails to help people discover like-minded pockets.
Discovery Through Media Rabbit-Holes
- Mapping media into rabbit-holes creates discovery pathways tied to shared taste.
- These pathways let users naturally find subcultural hotspots without mass algorithmic pushes.
Prefer Phone Signups For Low Friction
- Use phone numbers for low-friction waitlists and sign-ins instead of email.
- Hand-curate early access via a secret channel to build a concentrated, high-intent user base.