I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of a world where fire-breathing dragons interrupt our bedroom reading, garbage-eating crocodiles rule the streets, and you can’t put an Easter Island statue outside your house without the neighbours burning your place to the ground. I’m tired of a world where you get mobbed and bystanders are too chicken to do anything, where you get attacked just for taking your duck-that-thinks-its-a-dog out for a walk, a world where someone new moves into the neighbourhood and everyone wants to bite his head off just because he’s a carnivore.
I want to live in a world where cranes are made of paper, lucky cat can wave to Buzz Aldrin, and all mushrooms are magic. A world where Earth is only one of the many books on the shelf, and it’s just a short step ladder to the moon. And, I promise you, when we reach this new land, we will hear the sweet sound of birds. And there, settled peacefully into our comfy seats, you will read my beautiful book of squiggles and I will read yours.
Hi Hamish. While I love this on the whole, it seems that the images format has changed and so the artwork I post in Notes is cropped unless its clicked and opened. Is this likely to be permanent? Let me know if you’d prefer me to email support instead. Thanks :)
The video is terrific. There's a lot packed in there. I watched it several times and was pretty impressed as well as entertained. It's lighthearted and humorous, but also sad and true. It must have been an enjoyable project to work on.
I seem to be the only one pointing out that substack is increasingly just another endless, mindless feed.
I joined substack to leave the noise. To leave mindless scrolling. To be somewhere of deep intentionality.
The more of a “social network” this becomes, the more you kill why it was special.
You’re prioritizing noise. Not depth.
I saw a writer say that he gains subs by posting on Notes and loses subs by writing actual pieces.
DO YOU NOT GET THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT? When he’s shallow, he wins. When he’s deep he loses. WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT LEADS? It leads to just another noise machine.
I gave my last year to build something here and you are squandering it.
You're not the only one, Zach. Although I must admit, you're the only one that I've seen who has expressed the trajectory so well.
There's a lot of great potential in the Substack core mission. Unfortunately, the core mission is becoming increasingly overlooked as new social media functionality is prioritized.
I try to stick to the core because that's where I want to be. Still, I can't help but be concerned that more and more Substack is focused on social interactions between authors than solid depth of connection between readers and authors.
We already had “recommendations” to find; and comments to connect. And we already had Facebook, Instagram, twitter, YouTube, and podcasts for “circulation”.
Three months from now ask yourself, “when on substack do I spend more time scrolling; or thinking deeply?” The answer will be evident.
I take your point about the dangers of endless scrolling through bite-size morsels - apart from the general toxicity and Elon Musk, that was why I quit Twitter. But I actually find that I spend most of my time on Substack reading a few writers that I subscribe to. It feels more like reading a magazine than spending time on social media.
I feel the same. I am monitoring the changes, but as for myself I just switched to receiving posts in my email inbox again. I’m feeling really frustrated my quiet connection space is becoming Twitter. 🙄
I’d love your thoughts on it in terms of being autistic. I came here to get away from the carousels and the endless stuff shoved in front of me. It’s really upsetting to have that taken away. Moving back to email and deleting the app may be a good call. What a shame
It’s this exactly. I valued an app I could open for long form content. Ever since Notes was introduced I have struggled with getting lost in the flow and seeing things I didn’t ask to see. I have deleted the app and switched to email only. Before I started Substack I had created an email address JUST for newsletters I actually wanted to read. So I am switching back to that and may pop into the web browser to check notifications once a week (although I got a notification for this in my email inbox so that may not be necessary.)
@Zach: Second your comment. Recently I have subscribed to some substacks that they don't write, instead they just copy catchy content of other writers on the internet and send it out as posts, circulate it, generate clicks and ask for paid subscription. These page write nothing, they just copy and paste works of dead authors and share all over the place to gain subscription. This is harmful for the writing environment where writers want to earn a living.
Did you subscribe? Have you ever looked at the EXPLORE tab to the left? Pick a subject you like and go from there. You can always come to my 'Stack if you want to read fiction. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com
I subscribed for some substacks about 4-5 months ago, at first they posted what they wrote, now they changed to just post what they copy on the internet. I guess that's because they want to gain more click/view/subscription by posting everyday. I unsubscribed them, but I am concerned about this kind of content that dumps on the head of readers. Thank you Ben for you sharing and guidance.
I agree with you. I recently joined Substack hoping it would be somewhere to just read interesting articles and avoid scrolling mindlessly. I was surprised when I downloaded the previous App how the Notes section is essentially twitter. But it was on a separate tab and when you opened the app it showed you the articles from people I’ve subscribed to so I didn’t need to go onto it. I’ve only just downloaded the new app but can see the first tab you’re taken to is basically the Notes section so you’re almost encouraged to interact with that. Shame.
Outstanding work, Chris, Hamish, Jairaj and team! And, it was a pleasure working with Mel and Dayne -- providing feedback -- during the beta testing of this!
I don’t like this update at all! Why is the home page the notes page?? I’m here for the newsletters, not the tweets. Also who decided to switch the mental peace we had here over on Substack for this “everything at once in your face” format??? :((((((
I love the community here, it's one of the main reasons that I'm here. While I do understand your desire to promote and "name drop" some of the larger writers (who doesn't love Elizabeth Gilbert and Junot Diaz?) maybe instead of just saying "oh yeah there's some good smaller writers who discuss a smattering of topics" maybe you can help some of these smaller writers by actually specifically pointing them out in these site-wide type of promotions. Thank you this has been my TED talk.
Agreed. The name dropping is part of the mass-mess. I thought Substack was giving writers of all types (no pun intended) a chance to step out of that slew of algorithmic manufacturing... something truly original.
Ha! Once, we used to look forward to our 15 minutes of fame. Now, it's a TED Talk. I guess that's an upgrade. Fame is fickle. At least with a TED talk, we're likely to get an attentive audience. For about 15 minutes, anyway.
Sorry but you lost me at Alison Roman as a “towering figure of literature, art and science”. I like Substack but increasingly it seems to me like another place where the small guys have zero chances (except paying the big guys to feature them), and those who are big are big already from somewhere else.
Also, am I the only one a bit terrified by that “watch”? I come to Substack to escape video and I know that’s the experience of a lot of neurodivergent people I know.
I would suggest the Product team considers a “don’t show me video” feature for those like me.
I will admit, I don't use the app as much as I like to. There are already too many apps as it is these days. But, these are some exciting changes! It will help a lot of writers grow, connect, and engage with one another.
As a product designer of 11+ years. This is truly exciting. It looks and feels amazing. I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“Sir, did you order a plate of discoverability?”
“Yes. Yes, I believe I did. Thank you, kindly.”
This dish is good for sharing
A platter, one might say.
Somehow on first reading I missed the fact you’ve included my silly map! 😂😅😂
It’s always the dumbest things I spend my time doing that seem to go viral 😂😂 Hahaha thank you
Thanks Substack team, I just upgraded!
It looks nice!
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of a world where fire-breathing dragons interrupt our bedroom reading, garbage-eating crocodiles rule the streets, and you can’t put an Easter Island statue outside your house without the neighbours burning your place to the ground. I’m tired of a world where you get mobbed and bystanders are too chicken to do anything, where you get attacked just for taking your duck-that-thinks-its-a-dog out for a walk, a world where someone new moves into the neighbourhood and everyone wants to bite his head off just because he’s a carnivore.
I want to live in a world where cranes are made of paper, lucky cat can wave to Buzz Aldrin, and all mushrooms are magic. A world where Earth is only one of the many books on the shelf, and it’s just a short step ladder to the moon. And, I promise you, when we reach this new land, we will hear the sweet sound of birds. And there, settled peacefully into our comfy seats, you will read my beautiful book of squiggles and I will read yours.
This is genuinely moving.
Hi Hamish. While I love this on the whole, it seems that the images format has changed and so the artwork I post in Notes is cropped unless its clicked and opened. Is this likely to be permanent? Let me know if you’d prefer me to email support instead. Thanks :)
I'l look into this!
That’s great. Thanks, Hamish :)
Thank you for the lovely word interpretation :-) You really found all the easter eggs we snuck in the video
The video is terrific. There's a lot packed in there. I watched it several times and was pretty impressed as well as entertained. It's lighthearted and humorous, but also sad and true. It must have been an enjoyable project to work on.
I seem to be the only one pointing out that substack is increasingly just another endless, mindless feed.
I joined substack to leave the noise. To leave mindless scrolling. To be somewhere of deep intentionality.
The more of a “social network” this becomes, the more you kill why it was special.
You’re prioritizing noise. Not depth.
I saw a writer say that he gains subs by posting on Notes and loses subs by writing actual pieces.
DO YOU NOT GET THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT? When he’s shallow, he wins. When he’s deep he loses. WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT LEADS? It leads to just another noise machine.
I gave my last year to build something here and you are squandering it.
You're not the only one, Zach. Although I must admit, you're the only one that I've seen who has expressed the trajectory so well.
There's a lot of great potential in the Substack core mission. Unfortunately, the core mission is becoming increasingly overlooked as new social media functionality is prioritized.
I try to stick to the core because that's where I want to be. Still, I can't help but be concerned that more and more Substack is focused on social interactions between authors than solid depth of connection between readers and authors.
Agreed. I joined Substack to stay out of this behemoth mess. Serious bummer.
What to do.
Ditto
Ditto
Having something like a functionning Notes is fundamental for circulation of ideas and to discover the territory of Substack you want to follow.
And you don't have to be on Notes if you don't want to.
Given that this new version of Notes is scrambling posts from three minutes ago and three weeks ago, I don't quite see it as "functioning."
Totally agree with you.
We already had “recommendations” to find; and comments to connect. And we already had Facebook, Instagram, twitter, YouTube, and podcasts for “circulation”.
Three months from now ask yourself, “when on substack do I spend more time scrolling; or thinking deeply?” The answer will be evident.
I take your point about the dangers of endless scrolling through bite-size morsels - apart from the general toxicity and Elon Musk, that was why I quit Twitter. But I actually find that I spend most of my time on Substack reading a few writers that I subscribe to. It feels more like reading a magazine than spending time on social media.
And I don't mind scrolling too much.
Algos aren't so good that everything you read will be interesting to you.
A lot of people I've subscribed to were discovered outside Substack, on twitter in majority.
I don't go on Twitter anymore. Thus, if Substack doesn't fullfil this I won't be discovering new people that matters.
I feel the same. I am monitoring the changes, but as for myself I just switched to receiving posts in my email inbox again. I’m feeling really frustrated my quiet connection space is becoming Twitter. 🙄
I’d love your thoughts on it in terms of being autistic. I came here to get away from the carousels and the endless stuff shoved in front of me. It’s really upsetting to have that taken away. Moving back to email and deleting the app may be a good call. What a shame
It’s this exactly. I valued an app I could open for long form content. Ever since Notes was introduced I have struggled with getting lost in the flow and seeing things I didn’t ask to see. I have deleted the app and switched to email only. Before I started Substack I had created an email address JUST for newsletters I actually wanted to read. So I am switching back to that and may pop into the web browser to check notifications once a week (although I got a notification for this in my email inbox so that may not be necessary.)
@Zach: Second your comment. Recently I have subscribed to some substacks that they don't write, instead they just copy catchy content of other writers on the internet and send it out as posts, circulate it, generate clicks and ask for paid subscription. These page write nothing, they just copy and paste works of dead authors and share all over the place to gain subscription. This is harmful for the writing environment where writers want to earn a living.
Did you subscribe? Have you ever looked at the EXPLORE tab to the left? Pick a subject you like and go from there. You can always come to my 'Stack if you want to read fiction. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com
I subscribed for some substacks about 4-5 months ago, at first they posted what they wrote, now they changed to just post what they copy on the internet. I guess that's because they want to gain more click/view/subscription by posting everyday. I unsubscribed them, but I am concerned about this kind of content that dumps on the head of readers. Thank you Ben for you sharing and guidance.
And thank you for Subscribing to my page!
You’ve said what I’ve been thinking all day. Why did they spoil a good thing? What’s wrong with simplicity? Grrrr
I agree with you. I recently joined Substack hoping it would be somewhere to just read interesting articles and avoid scrolling mindlessly. I was surprised when I downloaded the previous App how the Notes section is essentially twitter. But it was on a separate tab and when you opened the app it showed you the articles from people I’ve subscribed to so I didn’t need to go onto it. I’ve only just downloaded the new app but can see the first tab you’re taken to is basically the Notes section so you’re almost encouraged to interact with that. Shame.
No, you're not alone.
I'm nervous too, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for now.
Besides loaded potato skins, this is the best app I am sorry for this I wish there was a delete button
anyone know how to do a lawsuit on yourself?
I love the upgrade. As an older reader, 74, I would love to have the option to adjust font size in your next app update.
Outstanding work, Chris, Hamish, Jairaj and team! And, it was a pleasure working with Mel and Dayne -- providing feedback -- during the beta testing of this!
I don’t like this update at all! Why is the home page the notes page?? I’m here for the newsletters, not the tweets. Also who decided to switch the mental peace we had here over on Substack for this “everything at once in your face” format??? :((((((
I love the community here, it's one of the main reasons that I'm here. While I do understand your desire to promote and "name drop" some of the larger writers (who doesn't love Elizabeth Gilbert and Junot Diaz?) maybe instead of just saying "oh yeah there's some good smaller writers who discuss a smattering of topics" maybe you can help some of these smaller writers by actually specifically pointing them out in these site-wide type of promotions. Thank you this has been my TED talk.
Agreed. The name dropping is part of the mass-mess. I thought Substack was giving writers of all types (no pun intended) a chance to step out of that slew of algorithmic manufacturing... something truly original.
Ha! Once, we used to look forward to our 15 minutes of fame. Now, it's a TED Talk. I guess that's an upgrade. Fame is fickle. At least with a TED talk, we're likely to get an attentive audience. For about 15 minutes, anyway.
Thanks for including Android in your app design. Just upgraded and it looks great!
Sorry but you lost me at Alison Roman as a “towering figure of literature, art and science”. I like Substack but increasingly it seems to me like another place where the small guys have zero chances (except paying the big guys to feature them), and those who are big are big already from somewhere else.
Also, am I the only one a bit terrified by that “watch”? I come to Substack to escape video and I know that’s the experience of a lot of neurodivergent people I know.
I would suggest the Product team considers a “don’t show me video” feature for those like me.
Outstanding update. Very elegant UI. Nice work!!
Yes, the UI is very nice. I haven't delved much deeper yet, but so far the signs are good.
I am still waiting for the function to write and draft my article on the app. So far I have seen Notes and Chat, but still not writing article
This. This (or a separate writer app) is something I’d like to see.
I will admit, I don't use the app as much as I like to. There are already too many apps as it is these days. But, these are some exciting changes! It will help a lot of writers grow, connect, and engage with one another.
Build a product, grow users, keep adding features. The life of an App.
You forgot to add... make a mess