The Eric Ries Show

Lessons on co-founding Twitter, Medium and Blogger with Ev Williams

9 snips
Apr 17, 2025
Ev Williams, co-founder of Twitter, Medium, and Blogger, shares his journey in shaping the modern internet. He reflects on resisting short-term pressures to build with integrity and the lessons learned from social media's evolution. Ev discusses Google’s acquisition of Blogger, the importance of strong relationships in tech, and his latest venture, Mozi—an app encouraging intentional in-person connections. He emphasizes the need for radical honesty and the balance between creativity and governance in tech, all while navigating the shifting landscape of the digital world.
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ANECDOTE

Longevity Through Relationships

  • Ev Williams attributes the longevity of his projects to strong relationships that allowed smooth transitions.
  • His personal network helped Google acquire Blogger and key people took over leadership roles at Twitter and Medium.
INSIGHT

Internet Idealism Meets Complexity

  • Early internet idealism assumed technology would improve the world through openness and transparency.
  • Over time, complexity and unintended consequences became clear, revealing a more nuanced reality.
INSIGHT

Social Media's Inevitable Downside

  • Some negative effects of social media may have been inevitable due to human nature and market forces.
  • Efforts to create healthier systems face competition from less scrupulous players exploiting those same dynamics.
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