About
Building Democratic Social Media
I'm building the alternative to corporate-controlled social media through my public benefit corporation, Verse Communications. After helping invent social media and Twitter, I'm now focused on creating platforms where communities control their own social spaces, users own their data, and technology serves people rather than advertising algorithms.
Why we need new social media
Social media should be a public commons, not corporate property. The platforms we use daily weren't designed for our wellbeing – they were designed to extract our attention and data for advertising revenue. This surveillance capitalism model has fundamentally broken online discourse.
Through Verse Communications, I'm building a different path forward. Our decentralized social platform nos.social runs on the Nostr protocol, giving users true ownership of their accounts, connections, and data. No ads, no algorithmic manipulation, no corporate surveillance.
The future of social media is protocol-based, not platform-based. Instead of being locked into corporate silos, users can choose from dozens of interoperable apps while maintaining their identity and connections. This is how we rebuild social media as a tool for community organizing and authentic human connection.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
nos.social
Decentralized social media app built on Nostr protocol. User-owned accounts, chronological feeds, no ads or tracking. Interoperable with 50+ other Nostr applications.
rights.social
Social Media Bill of Rights establishing five fundamental principles for free, open, and humane social platforms.
revolution.social
My podcast exploring how protocol-based digital networks can replace corporate platforms to create a truly democratic digital commons.
Background & Philosophy
From Twitter's Origins to Democratic Alternatives
As the first employee and de facto CTO at Twitter (2006), I helped build the platform that would define modern social media. But I've witnessed firsthand how these platforms evolved from tools for connection into surveillance machines optimized for engagement and ad revenue.
Before Twitter, I co-founded Indymedia, an open-source media activist network that grew to 180+ chapters worldwide. This taught me that decentralized, community-controlled media is not just possible – it's essential for democratic discourse.
Now I'm applying those lessons to rebuild social media from the ground up. The technology exists to create platforms where users control their own data, communities set their own rules, and authentic connection matters more than algorithmic engagement.
Technical Approach
With 25+ years of software development across multiple languages and platforms, I focus on building systems that serve human needs rather than corporate interests.
My approach prioritizes open protocols over proprietary platforms, user ownership over corporate control, and community governance over top-down moderation. These aren't just technical choices – they're political ones that shape how we relate to each other online.
The future is protocol-based
Social media should be infrastructure for democracy, not a business model for surveillance. The technology exists to build something better – we just need to choose to build it.
Join the revolution
The future of social media is being built right now. Whether you're a developer, community organizer, or someone who believes technology should serve people rather than profits, there's a place for you in this movement.