Platformer’s Casey Newton on surviving the great media collapse and what comes next

Content Moderation

Substack's approach to content moderation has sparked significant controversy. Casey Newton explains that Substack initially aimed to be a platform for free expression with minimal moderation, which led to its association with controversial figures 1. This approach backfired when Substack's algorithmic features exposed users to extremist content, prompting backlash from users and creators 2.

Substack was no longer pure infrastructure, and any platform or post could end up next to any nazi post.

--- Casey Newton

Nilay Patel notes that Substack's attempt to balance free speech with platform responsibility has been a challenging endeavor, leading to high-profile departures like Platformer.

   

Platform Impacts

The decision-making around content moderation at Substack has had profound impacts on its platform relations and user choices. Casey Newton left Substack for Ghost, citing the platform's failure to address extremist content as a key reason 3. This decision was influenced by Substack's ideological stance, which often positioned itself against mainstream media narratives 4.

Substack is an ideological project. The people who participate in it need a villain.

--- Nilay Patel

The ideological commitments of Substack have led to a polarized user base, with some users leaving due to the platform's controversial policies.

   

Ideological Conflicts

Substack's ideological commitments have shaped its policies and user reactions, often leading to conflicts. Casey Newton observed that Substack's leadership seemed to relish being part of the culture wars, even at the cost of alienating users 5. This ideological stance has resulted in the use of dark patterns to grow its user base, which has been criticized for prioritizing growth over user satisfaction 6.

Substack is growing newsletters through dark patterns.

--- Casey Newton

These practices have raised questions about the sustainability of Substack's business model and its long-term viability as a platform.