benwerd 3 months ago

Is the article dead?

Ben Werdmuller

Is the article dead?

Personalization is coming to journalism. The question is: who controls it?

benwerd 3 months ago

Last Call for Mass Market Paperbacks

Ben Werdmuller

Last Call for Mass Market Paperbacks

"The format credited with making books more accessible via low prices and widespread availability will all but vanish from the publishing scene in ...

benwerd 3 months ago

T.S.A. Is Providing Air Passenger Data to Immigration Agents for Deportation Effort

Ben Werdmuller

T.S.A. Is Providing Air Passenger Data to Immigration Agents for Deportation Effort

"The Trump administration is providing the names of all air travelers to immigration officials, substantially expanding its use of data sharing to ...

benwerd 3 months ago

Friday links: December 12, 2025

Ben Werdmuller

Friday links: December 12, 2025

In the face of government oppression, it's time to encrypt.

benwerd 3 months ago

Trump Signs Executive Order To Combat State AI Regulation

Ben Werdmuller

Trump Signs Executive Order To Combat State AI Regulation

"President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday intended to limit state regulation of artificial intelligence." At the same time, sta...

benwerd 3 months ago

2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year

Ben Werdmuller

2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year

"Wow, we made it. 2025. One of the years of all time." Tumblr didn't die - figuratively or literally - and, honestly, it's just nice to see it.

benwerd 3 months ago

US plans to start checking all tourists' social media

Ben Werdmuller

US plans to start checking all tourists' social media

"All tourists will have to undergo a social media screening before being allowed entry into the US under new plans being considered by the country'...

benwerd 3 months ago

10 Years of Let's Encrypt Certificates

Ben Werdmuller

10 Years of Let's Encrypt Certificates

Let's Encrypt is ten years old. It's changed the web for the better.

benwerd 3 months ago

The world needs social sovereignty

Ben Werdmuller

The world needs social sovereignty

"By making the news and truth contingent on advertising budgets we’ve created an environment where any narrative can win, as long as the storytel...

benwerd 3 months ago

Why RSS matters

Ben Werdmuller

Why RSS matters

The future of the web depends on simple, open standards.

benwerd 3 months ago

The Web Runs On Tolerance

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

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

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

You can't legislate serendipity

Ben Werdmuller

You can't legislate serendipity

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

benwerd 3 months ago

Where Do the Children Play?

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

Introducing Roundabout

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

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

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

Knowing when to leave

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

imperfect notes & my second subconscious

Ben Werdmuller

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 3 months ago

"Disagree and Let’s See"

Ben Werdmuller

"Disagree and Let’s See"

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

benwerd 3 months ago

The Optical Illusion of Prosperity

Ben Werdmuller

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...