ben.werdmuller

@ben.werdmuller@threads.net

I built one of the first open source social networking platforms. Now I lead technology at ProPublica. This is a purely personal account.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

ben.werdmuller, to random

Reposting now that we've hit this milestone: here's why I think the fediverse is important for media organizations. https://werd.io/2024/the-fediverse-for-media-organizations

ben.werdmuller, to random

"A social network based on the Mastodon codebase is now worth $11bn dollars" is not a great take because it misses a bunch of grifty, hateful context, but it's certainly an interesting chapter in open source social networking. (I also had someone build a Nazi-friendly network on one of my codebases, and I think about how I might prevent that from happening again a lot.)

ben.werdmuller, to random

I love the trend of journalists starting up their own independent subscription newsletters / websites. I don't love that they're doing it on Substack.

ben.werdmuller, to random

Well - it seems like there are a few kinks to work out, but this is still a pretty wonderful start. Onwards. Fediverse Threads

ben.werdmuller, to random

just setting up my opn scl wb

ben.werdmuller, to random

Do people at the IRS come home and be like, “I had a taxing day”

ben.werdmuller, to random

Elon Musk set out to undermine Twitter's role in what he saw as a spreading "woke mind virus". He reoriented that platform around right-wing influencers and talking points and thought that would change the discussion.

It tanked.

Twitter was nowhere near as influential as he thought (and was already pretty toxic). He simply couldn't believe that people wanted a more inclusive, just world: something he has called the end of western civilization.

What he created was a huge platform shift.

ben.werdmuller, to random

So I built a prototype of a thing to help people share to the fediverse (and beyond). It's a work in progress, and I'd love feedback. https://werd.io/2024/share-openly?2

ben.werdmuller, to random

The biggest issue that’s turning up for me about AI is not the models, hallucinations, etc, but how leakily AI-enabled services share potentially sensitive data with third parties. Using AI to process or read aloud a confidential document? Guess what, a third party you have no control over has a copy of it now.

ben.werdmuller, to random

The rhetoric expressed by Palantir's CEO during its earnings call is incredibly regressive - it's really surprising to see these words expressed during a public company meeting. https://werd.io/2024/palantirs-earnings-call-rhetoric-is-terrifying

ben.werdmuller, to random

This dovetails with what I've been talking about for some time: "Instead of spending time building a presence on other platforms for their benefit, a publisher can do that on their own sites — while giving readers the ability to see those posts on other federated platforms." And while the fediverse is still in an early, growing stage, it's worth taking a bet on. Fediverse Threads

https://digiday.com/media/why-publishers-are-preparing-to-federate-their-sites/

ben.werdmuller, to random

Neat shortcut for AI-free Google searches: https://udm14.com/

ben.werdmuller, to random

I really love the way ShareOpenly has been added to Tedium:

ben.werdmuller, to random

The internet is a global network with the potential to grow empathy and reduce our ability to dehumanize each other. That's why I love it: because I've seen what happens when we build a world where everyone is out for themselves. https://werd.io/2024/where-im-coming-from

ben.werdmuller, to random

Whoa. New web interface for Threads. It looks exactly like if Tweetdeck was made by Instagram.

ben.werdmuller, to random

Feeling pretty good about how this week has gone ✨

Teaching human centered design to mission-driven engineers in particular is my happy place.

ben.werdmuller, to random

It's an exciting time to be building on the web.

RE: https://www.threads.net/@johnonolan/post/C7AgLhyLTNA

ben.werdmuller, to random

Buried here: "Vox Media’s technology news publication The Verge says it also has plans to federate its own site to have more ownership over its content and audience." https://digiday.com/marketing/as-tiktok-ban-threatens-stability-in-social-media-ecosystem-some-brands-settle-into-the-fediverse/

ben.werdmuller, to random

I love seeing ShareOpenly in the wild! https://www.duncanmackenzie.net/blog/share-openly/

ben.werdmuller, to random

The big shiny new thing in tech is over here ---->

<---- The thing that will actually change the world is over here

ben.werdmuller, to random

Following on from a great post by @hunterwalk that discussed a slightly flippant argument I made about stock options, I decided to go into more detail about how I feel about them. I still maintain: the great majority of startup employees should think very, very carefully before exercising their options. https://werd.io/2024/think-twice-before-exercising-your-stock-options

ben.werdmuller, to random

Some work news. The most important thing is the impact of these pieces (and all our pieces) - hopefully the result is, in turn, a Supreme Court that better fulfills its role in our democracy, and both schools and a police force that better protect children. That's the kind of thing that makes it a real privilege to work here and support these journalists. https://www.propublica.org/article/pulitzer-prize-announcement-propublica-supreme-court

ben.werdmuller, to random

I'm really excited about these updates to ShareOpenly, my tool that lets you add a "share to social media" button to your website that understands the fediverse, Bluesky, and more: https://werd.io/2024/some-shareopenly-updates

ben.werdmuller, to random

Something it’s taken me years to really understand:

A lot of the people with power in tech - investors and founders alike - already come from money. Both their networks and cultural norms are at least partially pre-formed.

You can sometimes shortcut this by making lots of money, eg by being early at a Google - but even then, hiring is largely network-based. It’s about who you know. And if you’re not from those circles or that world, you likely don’t know anyone.

ben.werdmuller, to random

On the eve of the broadcast of the new season of DoctorWho, here's what I would say to Russell T Davies if I could. https://werd.io/2024/a-letter-to-russell-t-davies

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