ATX4: Can We Trust the Internet Again? Ethos Social Thinks So.

How AI-Verified Social Media Platforms Are Rebuilding Digital Trust “We’re all wasting time on social media.” – Brogan Neagle Social media promised connection. Instead, it often delivers noise, bots, and abuse. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast – Austin Startup Series (ATX3), host Chris Januszewski sits down with Brogan Neagle, CEO of Ethos Social, to explore a hard question: can we trust the internet again? Brogan’s journey began in software engineering. However, it took a tragic case of cyberbullying to push him toward entrepreneurship. As a result, Ethos Social was born with a clear mission: rebuild trust at the foundation of online interaction. Why Digital Trust Is Broken Today, much of what we see online is not real. In fact, Brogan explains that a large percentage of online interactions are driven by bots, fake accounts, or synthetic content. Because of this, authentic voices get buried. Meanwhile, harassment spreads faster than accountability. Ethos approaches this problem differently. Instead of moderation after the fact, it focuses on identity verification at the source. Brogan Neagle Ethos Social: The “SSL for Humans” Ethos Social uses AI-powered identity verification to ensure users are real people. No anonymity, bots or fake actors. In addition, the platform introduces a One Take feature. Content is recorded once, with no edits allowed. Therefore, authenticity becomes the default, not the exception. This design choice changes behavior. Creators show up more honestly. Communities become safer. Trust becomes visible. Austin, Community, and Building Something Better As part of the Austin startup ecosystem, Brogan highlights how local community support has shaped Ethos. Austin’s culture of openness and experimentation provided the right environment to test a new kind of social platform. Looking ahead, Ethos plans to expand beyond Austin. However, the core idea remains the same: trust should be built into the internet, not bolted on later. For founders, creators, and everyday users, this episode offers a powerful reminder. Technology shapes behavior. When trust is designed into the system, healthier communities follow. Ethos Social links: ethos.social LinkedIn