Yancey Strickler on Metalabel and Post-Individualism
Aug 1, 2023
auto_awesome
"Yancey Strickler, Co-founder of Metalabel and author" discusses post-platform guilds, digital native institutions, the appeal of dark forests on the internet, building a durable community through podcasting, the pressure to go viral, and the shift from gatekeepers to Web2 influence.
The rise of internet-native institutions fosters collective creativity and community among creators, moving beyond individualistic approaches to content creation.
The dark forest theory of the internet highlights the emergence of closed, high-context spaces where individuals seek safety, meaning, and trust, navigating beyond algorithms and open social media.
Collective work and collaboration among creative individuals offer joy, fulfillment, and shared resources, creating a sustainable and supportive environment for creative projects and institutions.
Deep dives
The emergence of new internet-native institutions
The podcast episode explores the rise of new internet-native institutions that are reshaping the cultural landscape. These institutions, like Do Not Research and Metal Label, aim to provide a platform for creators to collaborate and share their work. By moving beyond individualistic approaches to content creation, these institutions foster a sense of community and collective creativity. The episode highlights the importance of group dynamics and the ability to move together as a body between different online spaces and platforms. It also delves into the idea of creating internet-native social institutions that prioritize safety, trust, and meaningful connections among creators.
The dark forest theory and the need for safe spaces
The podcast delves into the dark forest theory of the internet, which suggests that people feel unsafe in open channels and are more comfortable in closed, high-context spaces. This leads to the emergence of alternative online communities, the so-called dark forests. Individuals seeking safety, meaning, and trust migrate to these social spaces to navigate the web beyond the reach of algorithms and the dangers of open social media. These closed spaces, similar to guilds in the physical world, offer a sense of community and protection that is essential for individual and collective well-being.
The importance of collective work and shared resources
The podcast emphasizes the value of collective work and collaboration among creative individuals. It highlights the joy and fulfillment that come from working with like-minded peers who share common values and respect each other's contributions. The conversation explores the idea of shared resources, such as advances and economic models, that enable creators to support one another and fund their projects collectively. By focusing on collective goals rather than individual success, these projects and institutions aim to create a sustainable and supportive environment for creative work.
Challenges of the creator economy and the need for new models
The podcast discusses the challenges faced by creators in the current creator economy and the limitations of existing platforms. It highlights the need for new models that go beyond individual success and facilitate collaboration and collective value creation. The conversation touches on issues such as the emphasis on individual content creators, the pressure to go viral, and the unequal distribution of profits within the creator economy. The podcast stresses the importance of finding alternative paths that prioritize collaboration and shared values over individual fame and fortune.
Meta-label and progressive productization for creative collaboration
The podcast introduces Meta-label, a project that aims to provide tools and platforms for creative collaboration and cooperation. It explores the concept of progressive productization, where projects are first developed and tested internally before being made available to the wider creative community. Meta-label seeks to empower smaller editorial groups, encourage collaboration, and create spaces for collective creativity. The episode emphasizes the importance of building new institutions that support and amplify the voices of creators, while challenging the dominant narrative of individual success in the creator economy.
Yancey joins me to discuss the “Dark Forests” of the internet. We explore new, post-platform guilds and digital native institutions for the 21st century. Browse the links below for his excellent writing on these topics:
Follow:
https://twitter.com/ystrickler
https://twitter.com/metalabel_xyz
https://www.instagram.com/metalabel_xyz/
Read:
https://onezero.medium.com/the-dark-forest-theory-of-the-internet-7dc3e68a7cb1
https://www.metalabel.xyz/magazine/features/after-the-creator-economy-the-zine
https://www.metalabel.xyz/
https://www.newcreativeera.com/
https://www.documentjournal.com/2021/01/the-internet-didnt-kill-counterculture-you-just-wont-find-it-on-instagram/
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode