Platform collapse! Nazis on Substack and why content moderation matters at the front lines of digital publishing

Creator economy platforms are not agnostic technologies: Who is invited and allowed to use and profit from platforms like Substack, Patreon, and Medium reflects the value systems of the platform owners, who collect a % of creators’ profits. Between Substack’s founders funding objectionable content and refusing to remove Nazi content, many prominent journalists publicly declared they could no longer ethically use the platform. This prompted an exodus, leaving many independent publishers to ask “where do we go now?”

The solution is not as simple as “stop using Substack.” Unplugging from a creator platform can be like asking someone to quit their full-time job, especially when platforms make it difficult for users to transfer subscriber data. Fortunately there are ways to counter dangerous trends in creator economics before it’s too late and monopolies form. This panel discussion features independent journalists who no longer use Substack, and revolves around the challenges journalists have faced through the collapse of digital media publishing systems. How can independent publishers can become resilient to platform collapse?