Jonathan Bellack
@bellack.com
Author of the Platformocracy newsletter, Advisory Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, 30-year Internet veteran, Xoogler, grilling/smoking, an old house, and many, many comic books.
Pinned
Jonathan Bellack
@bellack.com
· Jun 6
Bluesky trust and safety is too important to be left to Bluesky
Bluesky is open about almost everything, except setting and enforcing their community guidelines. They have an opportunity to lead the Internet forward with a democratic alternative.
www.platformocracy.com
I love almost everything about @bsky.app. I don’t love that despite an admirable layer of open moderation, the company retains final power over setting and enforcing rules on its app. I propose separating @safety.bsky.app & @moderation.bsky.app from the Bluesky company, under community control.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
To be fair, a courtroom-set divorce movie starring Tracy Morgan as the Monster and Kim Kardashian as the Bride would have made for one of the funniest episodes of 30 Rock ever.
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
To be fair, a courtroom-set divorce movie starring Tracy Morgan as the Monster and Kim Kardashian as the Bride would have made for one of the funniest episodes of 30 Rock ever.
* Bullshit #1: We graded our own homework, in secret, and passed!
* Bullshit #2: We deserve an “A” for effort, regardless of the results.
* Bullshit #3: We made a number go down, who cares if it’s relevant?
* Bullshit #4: Look at our giant numerator! Don’t ask about the denominator.
* Bullshit #2: We deserve an “A” for effort, regardless of the results.
* Bullshit #3: We made a number go down, who cares if it’s relevant?
* Bullshit #4: Look at our giant numerator! Don’t ask about the denominator.
Hopefully you've seen the @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social article revealing that Meta makes 10% of their revenue from scams and fraud. Their bullshit PR response adds insult to injury. I chew it into tiny pieces point by point in this week's Platformocracy. 1/3 #meta #trustandsafety #adtech #fraud
Rant: Meta is earning billions from scams and fraud. Their lack of transparency is an insult.
Meta’s newly-revealed carelessness is egregious, but their bullshit response is the Platformocracy at its worst. I am pissed. Welcome to what my coworkers used to call a “Bellack Special.”
www.platformocracy.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
* Bullshit #1: We graded our own homework, in secret, and passed!
* Bullshit #2: We deserve an “A” for effort, regardless of the results.
* Bullshit #3: We made a number go down, who cares if it’s relevant?
* Bullshit #4: Look at our giant numerator! Don’t ask about the denominator.
* Bullshit #2: We deserve an “A” for effort, regardless of the results.
* Bullshit #3: We made a number go down, who cares if it’s relevant?
* Bullshit #4: Look at our giant numerator! Don’t ask about the denominator.
Hopefully you've seen the @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social article revealing that Meta makes 10% of their revenue from scams and fraud. Their bullshit PR response adds insult to injury. I chew it into tiny pieces point by point in this week's Platformocracy. 1/3 #meta #trustandsafety #adtech #fraud
Rant: Meta is earning billions from scams and fraud. Their lack of transparency is an insult.
Meta’s newly-revealed carelessness is egregious, but their bullshit response is the Platformocracy at its worst. I am pissed. Welcome to what my coworkers used to call a “Bellack Special.”
www.platformocracy.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Hopefully you've seen the @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social article revealing that Meta makes 10% of their revenue from scams and fraud. Their bullshit PR response adds insult to injury. I chew it into tiny pieces point by point in this week's Platformocracy. 1/3 #meta #trustandsafety #adtech #fraud
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
One of my underlying working models for non-profit news is that nobody is in competition with each other. We should all be co-operative. We should be open sourcing code, sharing wins and losses, and doing as much as possible to lift each other up - out in the open so newcomers can benefit too.
November 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
One of my underlying working models for non-profit news is that nobody is in competition with each other. We should all be co-operative. We should be open sourcing code, sharing wins and losses, and doing as much as possible to lift each other up - out in the open so newcomers can benefit too.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
The origin of the phrase "pulling himself up by his own bootstraps" was meant ironically -- it's impossible.
It was meant to convey that we are all dependent on each other for success, since no one could "pull himself up by his own bootstraps."
Seems like some folks may have missed the point.
It was meant to convey that we are all dependent on each other for success, since no one could "pull himself up by his own bootstraps."
Seems like some folks may have missed the point.
November 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The origin of the phrase "pulling himself up by his own bootstraps" was meant ironically -- it's impossible.
It was meant to convey that we are all dependent on each other for success, since no one could "pull himself up by his own bootstraps."
Seems like some folks may have missed the point.
It was meant to convey that we are all dependent on each other for success, since no one could "pull himself up by his own bootstraps."
Seems like some folks may have missed the point.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
Happy Halloween! Don't forget to VOTE!
November 1, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Happy Halloween! Don't forget to VOTE!
This is an outstanding essay and you should all read this ASAP.
"The background that helped them build a functioning social protocol is increasingly the same background that's limiting their ability to govern it well."
"The background that helped them build a functioning social protocol is increasingly the same background that's limiting their ability to govern it well."
just a reminder that I thoroughly support @rude1.blacksky.team and @lucca.northsky.team in their respective governances, and that @bsky.app are increasingly looking not so great.
I Don't Really Care If Bluesky Dies (As Long As AT Protocol Survives) - Ewan’s Blog
blog.ewancroft.uk
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
This is an outstanding essay and you should all read this ASAP.
"The background that helped them build a functioning social protocol is increasingly the same background that's limiting their ability to govern it well."
"The background that helped them build a functioning social protocol is increasingly the same background that's limiting their ability to govern it well."
Can we regulate our way to Exit from social media? Can we buy it?
A closer look at the European Union, Utah’s Digital Choice Act, and @projectliberty.io in this week’s Platformocracy.
A closer look at the European Union, Utah’s Digital Choice Act, and @projectliberty.io in this week’s Platformocracy.
Can we regulate or spend our way to Exit? Lessons from Europe, Utah, and Project Liberty
The EU has regulated data portability, but the US is dragging its heels. A deep-pocketed benefactor has put at least $115 million into the fight, but is even that small fortune enough to make a differ...
www.platformocracy.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Can we regulate our way to Exit from social media? Can we buy it?
A closer look at the European Union, Utah’s Digital Choice Act, and @projectliberty.io in this week’s Platformocracy.
A closer look at the European Union, Utah’s Digital Choice Act, and @projectliberty.io in this week’s Platformocracy.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
lmao david byrne showed the video of the ice agents tripping over themselves while trying to run after a biker on wacker drive during the “life during wartime” segment of his chicago show tonight
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
lmao david byrne showed the video of the ice agents tripping over themselves while trying to run after a biker on wacker drive during the “life during wartime” segment of his chicago show tonight
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
99 problems and they've all been assigned Fibonacci numbers and added to the backlog.
October 30, 2025 at 3:31 AM
99 problems and they've all been assigned Fibonacci numbers and added to the backlog.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
wake up babe, a new way of saying "we just put 14,000 people out of a job" just dropped
October 28, 2025 at 6:43 PM
wake up babe, a new way of saying "we just put 14,000 people out of a job" just dropped
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
Python Software Foundation withdraws bid for $1.5m grant from US gov, because the terms require they do not "operate any programs that advance or promote DEI", and "it would be a betrayal of our mission and our community." Applause. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
The PSF has withdrawn a $1.5 million proposal to US government grant program
pyfound.blogspot.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Python Software Foundation withdraws bid for $1.5m grant from US gov, because the terms require they do not "operate any programs that advance or promote DEI", and "it would be a betrayal of our mission and our community." Applause. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
Important thread.
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Important thread.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
Every country has a powerful right wing that argue “if you tax the wealthy, they’ll leave”
We need to start calling their bluff.
We need to make it so the ultra wealthy either contribute enough to be a positive part of society, or be globally shunned and unable to extract further funds from us.
We need to start calling their bluff.
We need to make it so the ultra wealthy either contribute enough to be a positive part of society, or be globally shunned and unable to extract further funds from us.
October 26, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Every country has a powerful right wing that argue “if you tax the wealthy, they’ll leave”
We need to start calling their bluff.
We need to make it so the ultra wealthy either contribute enough to be a positive part of society, or be globally shunned and unable to extract further funds from us.
We need to start calling their bluff.
We need to make it so the ultra wealthy either contribute enough to be a positive part of society, or be globally shunned and unable to extract further funds from us.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
There are many people who work in social media who think there is one single all encompassing "network"
It can be very difficult to get them to internalize that there are actually many, many different networks, and we get to pick the nodes, edges, and boundaries
It can be very difficult to get them to internalize that there are actually many, many different networks, and we get to pick the nodes, edges, and boundaries
October 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
There are many people who work in social media who think there is one single all encompassing "network"
It can be very difficult to get them to internalize that there are actually many, many different networks, and we get to pick the nodes, edges, and boundaries
It can be very difficult to get them to internalize that there are actually many, many different networks, and we get to pick the nodes, edges, and boundaries
Competition is just one click away, unless it threatens our Daily Active Users metric.
Big social media platforms brag about their tools that let you download your data, but without import or forwarding, it’s a red herring. Companies could easily make this better.
In this week's Platformocracy.
Big social media platforms brag about their tools that let you download your data, but without import or forwarding, it’s a red herring. Companies could easily make this better.
In this week's Platformocracy.
More on Exit: competition is just one click away, unless it threatens our Daily Active Users metric
Big social media platforms brag about their tools that let you download your data, but without import or forwarding, it’s a red herring. Companies could easily make this better.
www.platformocracy.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Competition is just one click away, unless it threatens our Daily Active Users metric.
Big social media platforms brag about their tools that let you download your data, but without import or forwarding, it’s a red herring. Companies could easily make this better.
In this week's Platformocracy.
Big social media platforms brag about their tools that let you download your data, but without import or forwarding, it’s a red herring. Companies could easily make this better.
In this week's Platformocracy.
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
idk who's responsible for the website design that makes you start an order to look at a restaurant's menu, but I hope your life is bad
October 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
idk who's responsible for the website design that makes you start an order to look at a restaurant's menu, but I hope your life is bad
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
One of the best things about working on @graze.social is that fully 100% of the people I have met have had a sense of wanting to mutually lift one another up, and I think that's special and unique and part of what's happening in ATProto, and why I'm happy to push on this every single damn day ❤️
October 22, 2025 at 3:27 AM
One of the best things about working on @graze.social is that fully 100% of the people I have met have had a sense of wanting to mutually lift one another up, and I think that's special and unique and part of what's happening in ATProto, and why I'm happy to push on this every single damn day ❤️
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
Blacksky Algorithms == Hard Decentralization.
October 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Blacksky Algorithms == Hard Decentralization.
I finally learned how to make a homemade bowl of ramen. Dual-soup shoyu, mostly based on a video from Way of Ramen on YouTube, plus Serious Eats for the chashu. Sun noodles are as good as advertised. Doesn't look pretty, but the taste was spot on and the family enjoyed it. ❤️🍜
October 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I finally learned how to make a homemade bowl of ramen. Dual-soup shoyu, mostly based on a video from Way of Ramen on YouTube, plus Serious Eats for the chashu. Sun noodles are as good as advertised. Doesn't look pretty, but the taste was spot on and the family enjoyed it. ❤️🍜
Reposted by Jonathan Bellack
ultimately, zohran mamdani is a reminder that politicians can be younger than 80 years old
October 17, 2025 at 3:39 PM
ultimately, zohran mamdani is a reminder that politicians can be younger than 80 years old
Did you know that big tech platforms are glad you went to Bluesky? Getting rid of their most demanding customers leaves them with a passive audience who will tolerate creeping enshittification.
See how a legendary economist (and WW2 badass) predicted this in 1970, in this week's Platformocracy.
See how a legendary economist (and WW2 badass) predicted this in 1970, in this week's Platformocracy.
Explainer #4: “Exit, Voice, and Loyalty” is why big tech platforms want you to leave
A legendary economist and World War 2 badass tells us why heading to Bluesky or the Fediverse makes big platforms’ lives easier, and what it would take to convince you to stay and fight.
www.platformocracy.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Did you know that big tech platforms are glad you went to Bluesky? Getting rid of their most demanding customers leaves them with a passive audience who will tolerate creeping enshittification.
See how a legendary economist (and WW2 badass) predicted this in 1970, in this week's Platformocracy.
See how a legendary economist (and WW2 badass) predicted this in 1970, in this week's Platformocracy.