I like the look of Notes, and I never used to Twitter so I'm curious to see how it goes. That said, I love Substack as it is, and I hope all of these changes don't älter the platform too much. One reason I really love Substack is because of the long-form content, the higher engagement, fewer fast-scroll-dopamine hits... Let's see!
I’m cautiously optimistic about Notes. I try not to overdo social media, but think we’ve got a good community here on Substack. If Notes can keep that going rather than become another Twitter (which I flirted with but had to leave), I’m willing to experiment.
I don’t have my own substack yet (but use it to read others writing) Can anyone confirm/advise me that the people I see on my notes are those I’m subscribed to (free and paid?) along with the people that they’re subscribed to? Is that how it works? And if I was to post a note, who would see it? I’ve never used Twitter so I don’t really get it. Thanks in advance!
I'm still figuring it out myself, but it seems there are different tabs—one is everyone, one is just the people you subscribe to, and the third is just the "bestsellers" whether you subscribe to them or not. If you see a person or publication that you don't like and don't want to see, you can click on the three dots to the side and select "hide notes" from them. There is also a block. I think that is the general idea!
It isn't realistic to expect the user to block or hide every unwanted message in their feed. There are too many of them. What we want is for the unwanted content to go away.
Well, if you just look at the "Subscribed" tab, you'll only see the Notes and restacks of the people whose Substacks you subscribe to. This will include the things they choose to restack though. But there's no reason to use Notes if you find it annoying. If you just go to your Substack app inbox instead, you will just see the newsletters that are sent out from the newsletters you subscribe to, nothing more! Sounds like that might be more your speed?
All parties — Substack, its content contributors, and the public — are part of the same ecosystem, as we all share mutually entwined interests. We're linked in a chain. We should all feel uplifted by each other. The only way to leave no one feeling used is to include everyone in the decision-making processes. No one should be left out of the conversation.
I'd like to think that information as a commodity, or even socialization as a commodity, can be made to work for everyone, but so far, the successes have been mixed. It would be a shame if robust, respectful dialogue, even if hard and painful at times, were allowed to continue to suffer under the weight of structures that are beyond our control.
I'm running into some of the same issues here that I had on Twitter. First, how do you turn off restacks? I can't find any way to do this on the FAQ. I want to read the posts written by accounts I subscribe to, but that doesn't mean that I want my feed to be overwhelmed by content restacked from people I don't subscribe to.
Second, why is my feed filled with content from accounts I have no relationship to? This is spam. Some of these messages from unwanted accounts even restack conventional news sources, which I also don't want. This is what I was trying to get away from when I migrated from Twitter.
If the content creators themselves have little or no control over the rules, then perhaps Substack is using them, too, in much the same way that they're using us non-content creators.
The issue is control. I don't feel that I have control over what goes in my news feed. It's becoming clear that Twitter alone isn't the issue.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Paul. A few things. For one, no one needs to use Notes. It's just for those who want to, and I believe you can just keep seeing the Substacks that you subscribe to in your Substack app, or just keep enjoying the emails or visiting the publication's websites when you want to read them. Second, there should be a tab called "Subscribed" that will only show you the Notes from Substack creators you subscribe to. It's a voluntary platform, so I don't feel "used" going on it just because I'm not responsible for the coding or design—I don't have to do it, it's just been fun, and it has helped a few hundred new people find my newsletter, which is always nice. People who don't like it certainly should not feel pressured to use it, however. It's early days, so it seems that maybe just sticking with the published posts is more what you're after, as opposed to this very Beta version of a social element. One of the nice things about Substack is certainly getting away from that, and it's perfectly fine, and probably preferable for many people, to just keep enjoying the newsletters that they subscribe to.
Not sure it'll be a game-changer for the wider world.
It'll be nice for writers, especially for those already with a large investment in the Substack infrastructure.
For the wider world it'll likely be yet another short social platform, which they will tune out, just as they do most of them. Which is fine. Not all tools are for all people all the time.
But if this tool helps you? Then I'm glad it's available now.
Easier said than done is too right. I'm trying to do better at noticing how things like that make me feel, and saying no when I realize the answer is: bad!
Love to send out newsletters with typos before 5am!! xo
I like the look of Notes, and I never used to Twitter so I'm curious to see how it goes. That said, I love Substack as it is, and I hope all of these changes don't älter the platform too much. One reason I really love Substack is because of the long-form content, the higher engagement, fewer fast-scroll-dopamine hits... Let's see!
I'm looking forward to seeing how Notes works out!
I’m having fun making mistakes on notes too. Still figuring out Substack and, what the hell is Restack? I keep pressing buttons like a goofy child.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Notes. I try not to overdo social media, but think we’ve got a good community here on Substack. If Notes can keep that going rather than become another Twitter (which I flirted with but had to leave), I’m willing to experiment.
Yeah, it's been fun to see writers so happy on it this past week, but like all social media, one has to have balance, or know when to walk away.
Yep - this feels like a game-changer :)
I don’t have my own substack yet (but use it to read others writing) Can anyone confirm/advise me that the people I see on my notes are those I’m subscribed to (free and paid?) along with the people that they’re subscribed to? Is that how it works? And if I was to post a note, who would see it? I’ve never used Twitter so I don’t really get it. Thanks in advance!
I'm still figuring it out myself, but it seems there are different tabs—one is everyone, one is just the people you subscribe to, and the third is just the "bestsellers" whether you subscribe to them or not. If you see a person or publication that you don't like and don't want to see, you can click on the three dots to the side and select "hide notes" from them. There is also a block. I think that is the general idea!
It isn't realistic to expect the user to block or hide every unwanted message in their feed. There are too many of them. What we want is for the unwanted content to go away.
Well, if you just look at the "Subscribed" tab, you'll only see the Notes and restacks of the people whose Substacks you subscribe to. This will include the things they choose to restack though. But there's no reason to use Notes if you find it annoying. If you just go to your Substack app inbox instead, you will just see the newsletters that are sent out from the newsletters you subscribe to, nothing more! Sounds like that might be more your speed?
Thank you, I've found the Subscribed tab, so things are much better!
Same
All parties — Substack, its content contributors, and the public — are part of the same ecosystem, as we all share mutually entwined interests. We're linked in a chain. We should all feel uplifted by each other. The only way to leave no one feeling used is to include everyone in the decision-making processes. No one should be left out of the conversation.
I'd like to think that information as a commodity, or even socialization as a commodity, can be made to work for everyone, but so far, the successes have been mixed. It would be a shame if robust, respectful dialogue, even if hard and painful at times, were allowed to continue to suffer under the weight of structures that are beyond our control.
I'm running into some of the same issues here that I had on Twitter. First, how do you turn off restacks? I can't find any way to do this on the FAQ. I want to read the posts written by accounts I subscribe to, but that doesn't mean that I want my feed to be overwhelmed by content restacked from people I don't subscribe to.
Second, why is my feed filled with content from accounts I have no relationship to? This is spam. Some of these messages from unwanted accounts even restack conventional news sources, which I also don't want. This is what I was trying to get away from when I migrated from Twitter.
If the content creators themselves have little or no control over the rules, then perhaps Substack is using them, too, in much the same way that they're using us non-content creators.
The issue is control. I don't feel that I have control over what goes in my news feed. It's becoming clear that Twitter alone isn't the issue.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Paul. A few things. For one, no one needs to use Notes. It's just for those who want to, and I believe you can just keep seeing the Substacks that you subscribe to in your Substack app, or just keep enjoying the emails or visiting the publication's websites when you want to read them. Second, there should be a tab called "Subscribed" that will only show you the Notes from Substack creators you subscribe to. It's a voluntary platform, so I don't feel "used" going on it just because I'm not responsible for the coding or design—I don't have to do it, it's just been fun, and it has helped a few hundred new people find my newsletter, which is always nice. People who don't like it certainly should not feel pressured to use it, however. It's early days, so it seems that maybe just sticking with the published posts is more what you're after, as opposed to this very Beta version of a social element. One of the nice things about Substack is certainly getting away from that, and it's perfectly fine, and probably preferable for many people, to just keep enjoying the newsletters that they subscribe to.
Not sure it'll be a game-changer for the wider world.
It'll be nice for writers, especially for those already with a large investment in the Substack infrastructure.
For the wider world it'll likely be yet another short social platform, which they will tune out, just as they do most of them. Which is fine. Not all tools are for all people all the time.
But if this tool helps you? Then I'm glad it's available now.
Skip it! Who needs another thing that makes us feel bad, you know?
Same... I think it’s really about being purposeful and boundaried there! Easier said than done...
Easier said than done is too right. I'm trying to do better at noticing how things like that make me feel, and saying no when I realize the answer is: bad!