[PREVIEW] The Learning Curve EP2 Audio-Only: Starting a Social Media Co-Op Ain't Easy (But It's Worth it!)

In this episode of The Learning Curve, I spoke with Daniel Bingham, the founder of Communities. Communities is a new social media platform, similar to Facebook, for building and organizing community. Daniel is building it into a multi-stakeholder co-op model, where users and employees will have a voice in platform decisions. We discuss:What Communities is, why Daniel started it, and what he hopes to build with itWhat the Fediverse is and Mastodon vs. BlueskyLimitations of the Fediverse & BlueskyCheck out my Social Media Alternatives article for more information on Bluesky, their AT Protocol, and Blacksky, Skylight Social (platforms built off of Bluesky’s AT Protocol)Why starting a Tech Co-Op from scratch is hardHow tech funding typically works (I learned a lot!)Building out the Democratic Economy through co-ops Through our conversation you can hear the huge amount of thought, dedication and work Daniel has put in to create a co-op social media platform, despite being on "legendary mode" to start a tech co-op.  Communities LinksWebsiteiOS App LinkAndroid App LinkWays to Donate & ContributeContact DanielLinks to Items DiscussedFacebook & Instagram Content Moderator Abuses in Africa and around the world: Kenyan sub-contractors working for Meta suing for better labor protections, April 2025Institution for Human Rights and Business article on Meta’s worldwide labor abuses, June 2025Sama, Meta’s contractor, lays off 1,000 staff in Kenya, April 202699% Invisible podcast episode on NYC 311 SystemREI Union & BoycottAndor: Nemik’s ManifestoEnshittification Wikipedia Overview, the book Enshittification by Cory DoctorowFor more information about co-op structures across the economy, check out Episode 1 with Matthew Epperson (Video, Audio).