Ben Werdmuller - Nostr Hypermedia

Ben Werdmuller

benwerd@nos.social

npub183ng...4n09

I lead technology at ProPublica and write speculative fiction. This is a personal account. Every day, I write about tech, democracy, and society at https://werd.io. More about me: https://about.werd.io

benwerd 5 months ago

The Web Runs On Tolerance

The Web Runs On Tolerance

"History shows us that all progress comes from the meeting of diverse people, with different ideas, and different backgrounds." The web is no diffe...

benwerd 5 months ago

Friday links: December 5, 2025

Friday links: December 5, 2025

What comes after the AI hype cycle; new community platforms; and more.

benwerd 5 months ago

Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa

Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa

Under a new State Department memo, people who keep online spaces safe are now ineligible for H-1B visas.

benwerd 6 months ago

You can't legislate serendipity

You can't legislate serendipity

Why Europe's alternative tech vision needs community, not just compliance

benwerd 6 months ago

Where Do the Children Play?

Where Do the Children Play?

"In physical space, Western children are almost comically sheltered. But in digital space, they’re entirely beyond our command; and increasingly,...

benwerd 6 months ago

Introducing Roundabout

Introducing Roundabout

New_ Public announced its new community platform is being co-developed with five local US communities - and there's a lot more to come.

benwerd 6 months ago

What Happens After the Hype? Lessons from Mobile Internet’s Long Road to Success

What Happens After the Hype? Lessons from Mobile Internet’s Long Road to Success

"The question isn’t whether the current AI investment cycle will face a reckoning. It’s what form that reckoning takes — and what comes after."

benwerd 6 months ago

Knowing when to leave

Knowing when to leave

I wrote this in my blog drafts well over a decade ago (exact date unclear). I thought I'd publish it as-is as an aside. I'm sure it was going to be...

benwerd 6 months ago

imperfect notes & my second subconscious

imperfect notes & my second subconscious

I've never been a great notetaker. Winnie Lim suggests I might be overthinking it: it's not a second brain but a second subconscious mind.

benwerd 6 months ago

"Disagree and Let’s See"

"Disagree and Let’s See"

"Disagree and commit" is disingenuous. This is a better idea.

benwerd 6 months ago

The Optical Illusion of Prosperity

The Optical Illusion of Prosperity

"We have created a system where the only way to survive is to be destitute enough to qualify for aid, or rich enough to ignore the cost. Everyone i...

benwerd 6 months ago

The EFF we need now

The EFF we need now | Ben Werdmuller

Why the next era of digital civil liberties requires a tighter mission, a bolder strategy, and a clearer view of how power works.

benwerd 6 months ago

Of the web

"These days people use the term "web" to mean basically something you can view in a web browser. But that does not mean it is *of* the web."

benwerd 6 months ago

The State of the Open Social Web

The State of the Open Social Web | Ben Werdmuller

A comprehensive look at Mastodon, Bluesky, and the growing ecosystem of open, interoperable social networks.

benwerd 6 months ago

Open Source Power

Open Source Power

"In hindsight I don't think any reasonable person can say that we're collectively better off. Democracy is losing, and tech is playing an undeniabl...

benwerd 6 months ago

Honor The Maker's Schedule

Honor The Maker's Schedule

"As an innovation leader, it is your job to ensure that your organization has explicit norms that enable your people to do deep work." Meeting cult...

benwerd 6 months ago

Jack Dorsey funds diVine, a Vine reboot that includes Vine's video archive

Jack Dorsey funds diVine, a Vine reboot that includes Vine's video archive

"As generative AI content starts to fill our social apps, a project to bring back Vine’s six-second looping videos is launching with Twitter co-f...

benwerd 6 months ago

I Want You to Understand Chicago

I Want You to Understand Chicago

"I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time."

benwerd 6 months ago

Time to start de-Appling

Time to start de-Appling

"You have some serious thinking to do about what you intend to trust to the Apple stack altogether going forward, even things like passwords."

benwerd 7 months ago

How can I be most useful to you?

How can I be most useful to you?

A short reader survey about the challenges you’re working through and the support you wish existed.

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