i think substack should listen to their users like every other viral post on here is praising substack for not being like other social medias so the fact that theyd tiktokify the app is crazy
It was really a shock opening the app and see the new “reels” option, like you said so many of us are trying to leave the short form content and try to expand our attention span and it looks like all apps are trying the opposite, it’s definitely going to be a challenge. Loved this piece!
Great writing, somebody had to say it in long-form as well. In all honesty, I use the desktop version much more than the mobile app, which made me realise that they added "reels" quite late lol. The desktop version also makes me feel less like I'm on another "social" app. It feels like a blog like you mention, and like it's a more conscious decision on what I'm going to look at. Phones have the ability to take us anywhere they want it feels like. Its scary. I almost always open my phone to do one thing specifically, forget about it, get off my phone and then go like, "Wait, what did I just do?". I also really enjoyed your other piece on growing old, it's what made me subscribe, so I can't wait to read more from you!!
It is true for many apps! I don’t have Instagram anymore but I watched myself slowly slide to Youtube Shorts. When I realised, I also delete the app from my phone and only watch Youtube videos on my laptop now. I think I’ll do the same with Substack some day, as my brain is still searching for short content so each time it does, I have to counterattack 😅
I agree with all of this. Some of the "popular" writers on here are such drips. Their lives seem so bland and repetietive and their writing is the same. For me, the weirder the better.
I love the weird!! I feel like that’s what substacks is sort of about, letting writers express their thoughts and feelings. It lets writers express opinions on things they really care about. It’s awful seeing it turn into the direction of short attention span posting.
i came to substack to get away from the content style of tiktok and instagram. if substack pushes this short-form content and wants us to prioritize it, then-although i understand why-i would probably look for another long-form and written platform.
I’m curious… as you mentioned, monetization is a huge draw for creators on other platforms. But as of right now, the only content being monetized, that I know of, is posts (aka long-form content). Yet it’s short form content that seems to more easily go viral. It seems like there could be an interesting battle of values here: popularity vs money. I’m curious to see how that will play out and how it will impact the type of content put out and the nature of the app itself.
i completely agree with you. i’ve been using substack a lot more recently and i couldn’t be happier. your brain gets tired from all of the short-form content and constantly craves more and more. substack is like a safe place and i would hate to see it turn into every other social media platform. i’m truly grateful for all of the writers i find on here. they have the courage to be vulnerable and to be themselves. i struggle with expressing my thoughts a lot, hence why i’m a little hesitant on starting anything on here right now (but hopefully, i will in the future). but you and all of the writers on substack have my full appreciation and gratefulness, thank you so much for what you do :)
Thank you for writing about this!! I’m not too worried (yet) as I feel most users are resisting this change. But I am a little concerned about what this choice says about the decision-makers at Substack and their commitment (or lack thereof) to protecting and preserving the unique ecosystem on this platform that so many of us love.
I’m not surprised, just disappointed. I know that I, and a lot of others, would stop using Substack all together if it starts to feel like all the other social media apps. I like to read these articles on my balcony with my iced coffee in the morning. I don’t want to watch short form content in that time.
Thanks for another great article! I hadn’t even noticed the short videos button yet, and I can’t believe Substack has added this functionality to be more like Instagram, TikTok or YouTube - then again, I’m not wholly surprised, as it seems as this is what people want these days, and that means it’s where the money is. I’m here for the long-form content (writing and reading, like this amazing piece) and I hope the focus on Substack will remain on this. Thank you for addressing this!
On the surface it feels like an overreaction and while I agree that content creators are not necessarily bad. If the an underlying issue your users have is how distracting and consumed they are by short form contents hence why they migrated to a social media app that didn't have one and have written essays after essays about how liberating it was, maybe it's not wise to add it??
I loved this piece :) I feel weary, I started feeling weary since the whole tik-tok thing. The only people I saw on "featured" for a while, were some tiktokers I knew nothing about.
In regards to Notes and virality, I spoke about it in my last post (happy for you to check it out) It made me feel strange that that was bringing the subs and not the actual newsletters I take so long to write (panic, panic, a heavy dose of procrastination, panic as the deadline approaches, send and hide under a blanket while simultaneously refreshing the stats, is my creative process)
It's a bit like every other industry. Think telecom for example - they don't offer low rates to "loyal" customers, they offer low rates to new customers. The name of the game is to get more customers.
It's hard to leave Substack, especially for those with paid subs. The creators know this, so again, the focus is bringing in more.
Substack is a business. They're not in this for altruistic reasons. They want growth.
That isn't to say I'm not disappointed. I very much wish this could stay its little bubble, I very much wish they would invest in their existing base. I just don't see it happening.
We've been on this nice little train but the train has always been headed to the same destination - short form video and eventually, ads.
So ultimately, we all just have to determine if there's a hard line in the sand or not. But my guess is, just like every other social media platform, most people will stay.
i think substack should listen to their users like every other viral post on here is praising substack for not being like other social medias so the fact that theyd tiktokify the app is crazy
Yes, exactly!!
Exactly!! every app is becoming a carbon copy of tiktok, but not everyone wants that. Especially on apps like substack
It was really a shock opening the app and see the new “reels” option, like you said so many of us are trying to leave the short form content and try to expand our attention span and it looks like all apps are trying the opposite, it’s definitely going to be a challenge. Loved this piece!
Great writing, somebody had to say it in long-form as well. In all honesty, I use the desktop version much more than the mobile app, which made me realise that they added "reels" quite late lol. The desktop version also makes me feel less like I'm on another "social" app. It feels like a blog like you mention, and like it's a more conscious decision on what I'm going to look at. Phones have the ability to take us anywhere they want it feels like. Its scary. I almost always open my phone to do one thing specifically, forget about it, get off my phone and then go like, "Wait, what did I just do?". I also really enjoyed your other piece on growing old, it's what made me subscribe, so I can't wait to read more from you!!
It is true for many apps! I don’t have Instagram anymore but I watched myself slowly slide to Youtube Shorts. When I realised, I also delete the app from my phone and only watch Youtube videos on my laptop now. I think I’ll do the same with Substack some day, as my brain is still searching for short content so each time it does, I have to counterattack 😅
This is so relatable! The exact same thing happened to me.
I agree with all of this. Some of the "popular" writers on here are such drips. Their lives seem so bland and repetietive and their writing is the same. For me, the weirder the better.
I love the weird!! I feel like that’s what substacks is sort of about, letting writers express their thoughts and feelings. It lets writers express opinions on things they really care about. It’s awful seeing it turn into the direction of short attention span posting.
If I, by any chance, end up on the videos tab, is because my fat thumb clicked on it by accident.
i came to substack to get away from the content style of tiktok and instagram. if substack pushes this short-form content and wants us to prioritize it, then-although i understand why-i would probably look for another long-form and written platform.
I’m curious… as you mentioned, monetization is a huge draw for creators on other platforms. But as of right now, the only content being monetized, that I know of, is posts (aka long-form content). Yet it’s short form content that seems to more easily go viral. It seems like there could be an interesting battle of values here: popularity vs money. I’m curious to see how that will play out and how it will impact the type of content put out and the nature of the app itself.
i completely agree with you. i’ve been using substack a lot more recently and i couldn’t be happier. your brain gets tired from all of the short-form content and constantly craves more and more. substack is like a safe place and i would hate to see it turn into every other social media platform. i’m truly grateful for all of the writers i find on here. they have the courage to be vulnerable and to be themselves. i struggle with expressing my thoughts a lot, hence why i’m a little hesitant on starting anything on here right now (but hopefully, i will in the future). but you and all of the writers on substack have my full appreciation and gratefulness, thank you so much for what you do :)
Thank you for writing about this!! I’m not too worried (yet) as I feel most users are resisting this change. But I am a little concerned about what this choice says about the decision-makers at Substack and their commitment (or lack thereof) to protecting and preserving the unique ecosystem on this platform that so many of us love.
I’m not surprised, just disappointed. I know that I, and a lot of others, would stop using Substack all together if it starts to feel like all the other social media apps. I like to read these articles on my balcony with my iced coffee in the morning. I don’t want to watch short form content in that time.
Thanks for another great article! I hadn’t even noticed the short videos button yet, and I can’t believe Substack has added this functionality to be more like Instagram, TikTok or YouTube - then again, I’m not wholly surprised, as it seems as this is what people want these days, and that means it’s where the money is. I’m here for the long-form content (writing and reading, like this amazing piece) and I hope the focus on Substack will remain on this. Thank you for addressing this!
amazing essay mwuah
I feel like one day im gonna miss the substack im using now
real
On the surface it feels like an overreaction and while I agree that content creators are not necessarily bad. If the an underlying issue your users have is how distracting and consumed they are by short form contents hence why they migrated to a social media app that didn't have one and have written essays after essays about how liberating it was, maybe it's not wise to add it??
I loved this piece :) I feel weary, I started feeling weary since the whole tik-tok thing. The only people I saw on "featured" for a while, were some tiktokers I knew nothing about.
In regards to Notes and virality, I spoke about it in my last post (happy for you to check it out) It made me feel strange that that was bringing the subs and not the actual newsletters I take so long to write (panic, panic, a heavy dose of procrastination, panic as the deadline approaches, send and hide under a blanket while simultaneously refreshing the stats, is my creative process)
It's a bit like every other industry. Think telecom for example - they don't offer low rates to "loyal" customers, they offer low rates to new customers. The name of the game is to get more customers.
It's hard to leave Substack, especially for those with paid subs. The creators know this, so again, the focus is bringing in more.
Substack is a business. They're not in this for altruistic reasons. They want growth.
That isn't to say I'm not disappointed. I very much wish this could stay its little bubble, I very much wish they would invest in their existing base. I just don't see it happening.
We've been on this nice little train but the train has always been headed to the same destination - short form video and eventually, ads.
So ultimately, we all just have to determine if there's a hard line in the sand or not. But my guess is, just like every other social media platform, most people will stay.