Eli Pariser

screenshot of the article with black text on a white background that reads: "We’re very focused on local because it’s a place where, actually, in the same way that nobody goes to a library to be part of civic democracy—they go to a library to get a book, get Wi-Fi, or get help with SNAP—there are some first-order needs that people have that are not being met in these spaces. So, we’re piloting a community-first, mission-first local information platform, and we’re trying it out in five towns. People in these towns are super excited, and it’s been great for us to just hear their energy and support."

@slaby.bsky.social interviews New_ Public Co-Director @eli.bsky.social in his new interview newsletter series, The Exchange.

Eli and Michael go deep on Roundabout, local media, the new pope, and much more!

Worth subscribing!

insightsbymurmuration.substack.com/p/building-d...

👋 Introducing Roundabout: built for neighbors, with neighbors New_ Public’s app for local communities enters closed beta in five pilot communities

We’re building Roundabout, an app and website for neighbors to connect.

As we build, we’re grounded in research about what people actually want, and we’re working hard to deliver that.

But what DO people actually want?

newpublic.substack.com/p/introducin...

Where Do the Children Play? On the need for a world without us

Anthropologist @eselster.bsky.social argues parents have tried so hard to insulate their kids from offline harms, that they're forced to seek unstructured independence in online spaces.

But Big Tech often puts profits over child safety, leaving kids without safe places to play online or off.

👋 Introducing Roundabout: built for neighbors, with neighbors New_ Public’s app for local communities enters closed beta in five pilot communities

In communities across the country, we’re hearing from everyday people that they are hungry for a new way to connect with neighbors online.

Our team at New_ Public, a nonprofit focused on building digital public spaces, is creating Roundabout, a new social app and website, now in closed beta.

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It’s a big day for our team – @newpublic.org is starting to test out our new community platform Roundabout with real people.

I’m excited to share more with everyone in the coming months.

We're still filling a funding gap for the project, so reach out if you have leads — we need your help to grow.

This is one of the best deliberative democracy projects we’ve seen in a while:

@engaged-california.bsky.social asked Californians affected by the LA wildfires to weigh in on the recovery process.

Now they’ve synthesized that data, and they’re presenting an action plan to elected officials.

YouTube video by New_ Public The Local Connection Crisis: New Data on What Communities Need

Social media researcher @taliastroud.bsky.social (New_ Public and @engagingnews.bsky.social) presents our new nationwide poll results on how Americans really connect with their neighbors online — and the surprising gaps that deserve more attention.

Watch here 📹

We are thrilled to be a small part of a much larger movement for designing and building digital spaces that feel like the parks, neighborhoods, and libraries we love.

Check out our revised and expanded Healthy Digital Spaces Starter Pack, and let us know who we’re missing!

bsky.app/starter-pack...

🇨🇦 How Canadians are fighting for digital independence Gander's CEO on decentralization, crowdsourcing, and annexation fears

What would a 100% Canadian social media platform look like?

The team at @gandersocial.bsky.social is about to find out. By giving Canadians control over their data, their feeds, and more, they’re hoping to offer a viable alternative for American social media.

Cammie Croft Takes on Corruption in Run for New Jersey’s 11th District - Cammie For Congress

Today, my campaign is releasing our first policy planks to root out corruption and self-dealing in government.

cammieforcongress.com/article/camm...

Eurosky Live - 19 November, Berlin — eurosky Our first Eurosky Live conference will take place in Berlin on 19 November 2025, showcasing a public interest social media ecosystem built and governed in Europe.

On Nov. 19th, we’re co-hosting Eurosky Live in Berlin!

Europeans need control over European social media infrastructure, and next week we’re gathering entrepreneurs, technologists, policy-makers, and others towards developing a new, public interest digital ecosystem for Europe.

New_ Public’s Guiding Principles for AI We learn in public through transparency. We keep humans in the driver's seat. We navigate AI's inherent biases. We embrace friction and slow, intentional thinking. We navigate nuance and complexity by cultivating a flexible, evolving approach. We design for pluralism and center the public good. We empower our team through continuous learning and open dialogue.

Like many small nonprofits, we’ve been experimenting with using AI tools so that we can focus on our mission of reinforcing human connections, conversations, and communities.

We remain mindful of the harms and risks of AI, and have developed a set of guiding principles grounded in our values.

The Local Connection Crisis: New Data on What Communities Need · Zoom · Luma Now we know what we've long suspected: People really use and rely on their local Facebook groups, Nextdoor neighborhoods, and WhatsApp group chats, but they…

There’s a big gap between how people talk to their neighbors online, and how they want to — I can’t wait to share this survey.

Looking forward to this conversation with my @newpublic.org co-founder @taliastroud.bsky.social on November 20th. RSVP to join

Hey, if you (yes you) have 5 minutes I could use your help -- we are doing a project on how social conversation online will be reshaped in the next couple of years, and would love to hear what you're seeing/thinking about!

Pilot Episode: Deepti Doshi talks independence & community Deepti Doshi talks about fostering independence and community, and how to help our kids build muscles for navigating the current realities of digital technology... and whatever comes next.

The focus tends to be on the kids, but access to screens and technology have also profoundly changed parents, too.

Our Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social says it’s important to stress that these are tools and give kids the credit and confidence to understand the bigger picture.

✨💑 New_ Public’s AI framework: Learn in public, keep humans centered Everything on our new policy on AI use, from "secret cyborgs" to "start-up mindset"

In the spirit of learning in public, we’re opening the door to how New_ Public has been thinking about and using AI.

We break down our understanding of the risks, the values behind how we're using it in our work, and explain why we’re choosing to take on this technology as critics and not skeptics.

✨💑 New_ Public’s AI framework: Learn in public, keep humans centered Everything on our new policy on AI use, from "secret cyborgs" to "start-up mindset"

For the past few months at @newpublic.org we’ve been doing some thinking about where and why to use – and not use – AI tools.

This AI policy is a first attempt to set some guiding principles. Very curious to hear folks’ thoughts on this first iteration.

I spent some time this summer working out of the Villager, the cafe owned by The Midcoast Villager in my hometown of Camden, ME. It was very cool to see the mix of Mainers, tourists, and Villager staffers all eating, working, and engaging together.

I've been working on this with our amazing team for five months now, and we're getting very close to sharing more about what we've been up to. I'm so excited.

What I Saw Around The Curve Notes from the near-future of AI

How fast is artificial intelligence actually progressing?

Are AI companies going to become pariahs (like social media companies before them)? When will we really feel genuine disruption?

A dispatch from AI conference The Curve, by New_ Public Co-Director @eli.bsky.social

Local Lab | New_ Public Helping local communities create flourishing digital spaces

It won’t be easy, but we’re optimistic.

People will always use a bridge — literal or figurative — if it gets them somewhere they need to or want to go.

Learn more here. There’s much more to come, soon!

Aerial view of a historic stone bridge with multiple arches spanning across a turquoise river, connecting two hillside towns with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky. Quote by Ivo Andric about bridges overlaid on the image reads: 'Of all the things created and built by humankind, nothing in my mind is better or worthier than bridges. They belong to all and treat all alike; they are useful, built for purpose, at a spot where most human needs entwine.

As part of our mission, we’re committed to building new online infrastructure to foster community and civic health. But what does that actually look like?

Our Co-Directors, @eli.bsky.social and @deeptidoshi.bsky.social, often turn to IRL public infrastructure for inspiration.

In this case, BRIDGES

This is so exciting – at @newpublic.org, we're looking forward to building in collaboration with a rich ecosystem of open-standards-based tooling to support healthy online spaces for local communities, and @roost.tools is so inspirational in that regard.

Real Freedom Starts with Community To fulfill the promise of our rights as Americans, they must be lived out in our neighborhoods, communities, and shared digital spaces.

If you’re looking for a boost, here’s New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social’s excellent essay about having the freedom to live the kind of life you want to live.

Deepti presents a vision for the future where technology makes people feel hopeful and less alone.

Are these local newsletters local <em>news</em>? (And does it matter?) Meet a few of the entrepreneurs and hobbyists building community — and sometimes, making real ad money — from newsletters aggregating local events.

As mainstream social media platforms move further away from local news and community connection, local newsletters are stepping in to fill the gap.

Friend of New_ Public Logan Elmore started his newsletter in Chattanooga, TN with the intention of going beyond news and inspiring community pride.

Los Angeles fires recovery | Engaged California Engaged California is an online platform that makes it easier for Californians to have a voice in government. Engaged California's first topic is recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires.

Thousands of people opined on the recovery from the LA fires using California's new digital democracy tool Engaged California.

From climate resilience to restoring utilities, residents and survivors set the agenda and now it’s time for the state to take action.

Check out the results so far!

YouTube video by Healthy Places by Design Using Digital Spaces to Strengthen Social Connections

How do you build digital spaces that actually strengthen communities?

In this webinar with Healthy Places by Design, New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social explains the Civic Signals, a framework for flourishing digital public spaces.

Purple background with white and yellow text displaying a quote from Jeffery Marino, Director of California Office of Digital Innovation. The quote reads: "We shouldn't have to wait for an election cycle or depend on only the traditional avenues of interacting with our government leaders. [Engaged California is] not seeking to replace any of those, but rather add a new avenue so we can engage with Californians on what's impacting them in their day-to-day lives." A decorative isometric illustration of stacked platform layers appears in the bottom right corner in light purple tones.

Traditionally, showing up at a town meeting has been a cornerstone of participatory democracy. Today, in person engagement isn’t always convenient or realistic.

But California is showing that when people have the right tools, they are ready to have civil, thoughtful, and productive conversations.

The Attention Forum: October 23/24th 2025

Public media organizations are facing an existential threat — how can they not only survive this moment but emerge stronger?

If you’re at Attention: Govern or be Governed, Friend of New_ Public Catherine Tait will be tackling this with @camposmello.bsky.social & @emilybell.bsky.social tomorrow.

What AI means for the business of: journalism The first in an occasional series where we look at the second-order effects of AI on particular industries and roles.

In the age of AI, @arctictony.com argues that journalists and media organizations must tap into “The Archipelago of Trust”: the group chats, newsletters, and private networks that are grounded in connection and trust.

At the core of that archipelago? People.