Digg Returns: Digital Platform Relaunching in Bid to Bring “Good Vibes” Back to Social Media

by

After being absent for twenty years, Digg is making a comeback with the aim of reintroducing enjoyment to the online world.

The founders of Digg (Kevin Rose) and Reddit (Alexis Ohanian) are supporting this agreement, under which Kevin Rose will assume the role of chairman and Justin Mezzell will take on the position of CEO.

Or, more informally:

Kevin Rose (Digg’s founder) and Alexis Ohanian (Reddit co-founder) are on board with this deal. In it, Kevin becomes the chairman and Justin Mezzell steps up as CEO.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rose excitedly expressed, “When the three of us joined forces, it felt like we had more than enough resources to whip up something truly one-of-a-kind.

According to Rose, the latest version of Digg is partly designed as a response to the present condition of the web, where sensational and viral content, whether true or false, frequently holds sway.

Digg launched in 2004 when the internet had a distinctly different vibe. The rise of social media and the concept that anyone can have a voice, often leading to those who shout the loudest being heard, has brought about a certain level of disorder,” Rose explains. “On one hand, it’s fascinating because we’re exposed to aspects of humanity we hadn’t seen before or were previously concealed. However, there are also many individuals eager to connect, share, and engage in discussions on topics they care about in a considerate and productive manner, fostering genuine lasting friendships.

According to Mezzell, the revamped Digg will initially focus on evoking feelings of nostalgia when it launches, as demonstrated by its sneak peek at SXSW, where Rose and Alex Albrecht are hosting a special episode of their show “Diggnation.

Mezzell stated that they’re starting with a minimal set of tools, and this is done intentionally. The goal is for users who recall Digg to recognize it and think, “This feels familiar,” reminding them of a time when logging into Digg was exciting because they could discover, “What are people interested in today? What are they discussing? What’s the interesting content?

He continues by stating, “However, just keeping it as it was won’t give us much time. If we simply kept Digg in its old form, I believe the initial surge of nostalgia would be enjoyable at first, but within two weeks, people might start thinking, ‘perhaps there was a reason we stopped using it.’ To avoid this, we have planned strategic steps that are purposeful and flexible, some of which may change as we go along. We hold these ideas strongly, yet remain open to adjustments, as we believe this is the path we should follow, and the community will significantly influence its direction.

As a gamer, I’m excited about the advancements in AI technology that the latest version of Digg will incorporate. Instead of relying solely on human moderators, these intelligent systems will assist and support them, making the gaming experience even smoother and more enjoyable.

As a gamer, I’m thrilled about the new possibilities we have today in reviving the authentic spirit of Digg. Back then, we didn’t have the advanced technologies we do now to make it a more productive and secure platform for people to interact. Now, we can leverage these tools so that our moderators don’t just clean up messes but can focus on creating a positive environment. Essentially, AI can take over the heavy lifting, allowing moderators to be the curators of good vibes and bring back the positive aspects of social media.

In a statement, Ohanian emphasizes that the revival of Digg is aimed at maintaining harmony between technology and human interaction within online communities. He further states that Kevin and himself aim to construct something superior to current social platforms. The role of AI should be confined to handling routine tasks in the background, allowing humans to excel in their forte – fostering genuine relationships. People don’t desire to spend their time combating spam or policing content; they yearn for opportunities to create, connect, and cultivate vibrant communities. I am fully committed to this new phase.

Mezzell points out that online platforms such as Reddit and Discord highlight a growing preference among digital users for participating in specialized, niche communities. However, he notes that these existing platforms currently fall short when it comes to fully satisfying this particular demand.

As a gamer, I’ve been pondering over “why now?” and it seems to me that what was once considered niche has become the new mainstream. Looking at my kids’ interests, there’s no longer this idea that there’s only one thing that matters, the dominant trend. Nowadays, indie games are just as popular as the big-name developers. In fact, Anora recently won the Oscar for Best Picture – a clear sign that the underdog can rise to the top!

Rose emphasizes that our goal isn’t merely to create a Reddit duplicate. Instead, it’s about providing a platform where communities can express their identity by saying ‘this is who we are and these are our priorities.’ This could encompass aspects such as content management and the overall site design and functionality. We aim to make this customization experience more adaptable than ever before. If we succeed in easing content moderation and other administrative tasks, we’ll be creating a unique space where people can form significant relationships, which is our ultimate objective.

Apart from other unique aspects, the revamped Digg aims to stand out by sharing a portion of its economic development with the community it cultivates. Although the specific financial details are undisclosed, they have secured sufficient funding through True Ventures and Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, ensuring a stable period for growth. Once Digg begins generating revenue, it plans to distribute a part of that income back to its community.

Rose explains that our approach to monetization should acknowledge and reward the hard work of community builders and moderators. She finds it unfair that large corporations can profit from free labor without giving these individuals any ownership or means to monetize their communities.

Read More

2025-03-05 14:24