Author Archives: ivanagas

People complain social media is “anti-social.” They are partially right; popular social media platforms optimize for “engagement.” There are many ways to create engagement without being social, and that is what happens. You become a tool that creates engagement for social media rather than using it for your own good. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,Continue reading “Social Media Is as Social as You Make It”

Do you ever wonder how internet communities persist despite trolls, grifters, bullies, and other undesirable characters? How do members persevere and remain positive despite these bad actors? Most communities don’t have employees to manage or create content. Most people are too busy or distracted to contribute, yet many communities still function well. Why doesn’t everyone’sContinue reading “Saints, Knaves, and Moralists of Internet Communities”

We think of internet communities as one collection of people all interacting with each other. This isn’t true. People can only maintain a certain number of relationships with others. They have limited time to gather information about a group, build relationships, and stay engaged. This limits the size of the group they can interact andContinue reading “How Dunbar’s Number Makes Or Breaks A Community”

Consuming content about creation won’t make you a successful creator. It is a trap that leads to thinking there is a “right” way to create, thus preventing you from creating. Meta-creators (creators who create about creating) say the answer is in their newsletters, video courses, writing workshops, tweet threads, and productivity guides. These “answers” won’tContinue reading “Content About Creation Is Procrastination”

A community exists that is ideal for you. How do you discover it? Many of us are trapped in communities not ideal for us. We don’t get the most out of our time there but don’t know the other options. We are jealous of people who find their ideal spots. They have created connections, grownContinue reading “How To Discover Your Ideal Internet Community”

Ask a company what they value and there is a good chance they say “our people.” Without employees, customers, and other stakeholders, a company wouldn’t exist or succeed. The interests, problems, and passions of these groups shape a company. Increasingly, the place to talk about these topics is internet communities, and that is why executivesContinue reading “Why Executives Should Care About Internet Communities”

Ownership supercharges community. It combines two trends: Large scale communication and coordination through internet community platforms. Decentralization and increased distribution of ownership. The combination created rapid growth of membership, attention, and value within these communities. Examples of communities supercharged by ownership include: WallStreetBets taking Gamestop from $20 to $350 per share. Bitcoiners causing Bitcoin toContinue reading “Supercharging Communities Through Ownership”

The format of interactions in a community creates a community’s speed. Interactions are driven by the platforms communities exist on. Voice and messages are fast, events and peer-reviewed articles are slow. Speed is both a constraint and an incentive. It guides a community’s behavior, actions, and content. Communities can exist at any speed but oftenContinue reading “The Speed of Community”

How you think about the future makes you unique. It is your knowledge and experiences projected forward. Your ideas about the future shape how you spend your time and energy. There are many futures for you to explore and pursue. You should try to pick the best ones. Start by exploring many futures. You can’tContinue reading “Your Future Makes You Unique”