Alexis Ohanian

At the same time, some of the stuff we talked about earlier, just trying to navigate an already really difficult time that is childhood where your entire life is gamified, you know, based on how many followers you get or how many hearts you get or whatever else also brings out the worst. But for me, no, that was that was my breaking point. And I just realized

At the same time, some of the stuff we talked about earlier, just trying to navigate an already really difficult time that is childhood where your entire life is gamified, you know, based on how many followers you get or how many hearts you get or whatever else also brings out the worst. But for me, no, that was that was my breaking point. And I just realized

I, like I said, I can deal with, I understand, you see this argument being made to this day. I respect that argument. And I at least appreciate when it's consistent. The inconsistency is the part that grinds my gears more than anything else. But we must also still accept the fact that, you know, the World Wide Web itself, the internet, is the totally open, free space.

I, like I said, I can deal with, I understand, you see this argument being made to this day. I respect that argument. And I at least appreciate when it's consistent. The inconsistency is the part that grinds my gears more than anything else. But we must also still accept the fact that, you know, the World Wide Web itself, the internet, is the totally open, free space.

The difference is when we build any kind of social media platform, platform, whatever it is on it, we are ultimately deciding what belongs and what doesn't. We've all agreed that spam does not matter. Like we are all okay impinging on the free speech of a spammer.

The difference is when we build any kind of social media platform, platform, whatever it is on it, we are ultimately deciding what belongs and what doesn't. We've all agreed that spam does not matter. Like we are all okay impinging on the free speech of a spammer.

and that's a pretty easy argument everyone agrees so so if we agree on that then now we just need to agree on where we draw the line because it's there there's no such thing as a totally free network because again we've all agreed we draw a line on spam so where else does it go and like i said for me and i and i realize it is it's important for it to be a gray line and i can go into all the there's a myriad of reasons why it's actually really helpful to have it be a gray line the short answer is if you make it a bright line

and that's a pretty easy argument everyone agrees so so if we agree on that then now we just need to agree on where we draw the line because it's there there's no such thing as a totally free network because again we've all agreed we draw a line on spam so where else does it go and like i said for me and i and i realize it is it's important for it to be a gray line and i can go into all the there's a myriad of reasons why it's actually really helpful to have it be a gray line the short answer is if you make it a bright line

then toxic users will go right to exactly where that line is and say, great, okay, I'm just going to hang on here on this line and troll because that's how they get satisfaction. So it's actually beneficial to have the gray line. So I totally understand the gray line. Even our laws in the United States have a gray line that usually get interpreted by judges or juries or what have you.

then toxic users will go right to exactly where that line is and say, great, okay, I'm just going to hang on here on this line and troll because that's how they get satisfaction. So it's actually beneficial to have the gray line. So I totally understand the gray line. Even our laws in the United States have a gray line that usually get interpreted by judges or juries or what have you.

That's helpful. But I think, and this is where the tech optimist in me comes in, when I look at the next generation of consumer social, these apps, and every app starts with teens, usually teen girls, college age girls, they drive all online culture and adoption. You look at Instagram success, you look at Snap success, you look at TikTok success, it's the same story.

That's helpful. But I think, and this is where the tech optimist in me comes in, when I look at the next generation of consumer social, these apps, and every app starts with teens, usually teen girls, college age girls, they drive all online culture and adoption. You look at Instagram success, you look at Snap success, you look at TikTok success, it's the same story.

then the apps that are starting to make traction, and it's still early days, but they're much less based, even the ones that have blown up and fallen back down, the B-Reels of the world and some of these others, they're all much less based on the sort of internet popularity contest. And they're much more based on, Connecting with your actual friends.

then the apps that are starting to make traction, and it's still early days, but they're much less based, even the ones that have blown up and fallen back down, the B-Reels of the world and some of these others, they're all much less based on the sort of internet popularity contest. And they're much more based on, Connecting with your actual friends.

One that I recently seeded is called Air Buds, and it's only about connecting over the music you're listening to. And it's purely like, this is the song I'm streaming right now on Spotify. React to it, vibe with it, share tastes. I think the culture has already now built up enough of an immune system that for this next generation, there's a pushback to... the previous mold of social.

One that I recently seeded is called Air Buds, and it's only about connecting over the music you're listening to. And it's purely like, this is the song I'm streaming right now on Spotify. React to it, vibe with it, share tastes. I think the culture has already now built up enough of an immune system that for this next generation, there's a pushback to... the previous mold of social.

And I think that alone will drive a much more healthy relationship to social media, but we'll see. But that is the lens through which we look at even making the investments. It's okay. When my kids are old enough, how good am I going to feel about this being a multi-billion dollar business that they're on? And look, admittedly, you cannot predict that.

And I think that alone will drive a much more healthy relationship to social media, but we'll see. But that is the lens through which we look at even making the investments. It's okay. When my kids are old enough, how good am I going to feel about this being a multi-billion dollar business that they're on? And look, admittedly, you cannot predict that.

There are so many different paths a company can take, any idea can take from day one to 10 years out, 15 years out, 20 years out. But we make the best assessment we can based on the founders, based on their attention and have, like I said, the starting line that these founders are on today is much more sophisticated than I was as a first time CEO right out of college.

There are so many different paths a company can take, any idea can take from day one to 10 years out, 15 years out, 20 years out. But we make the best assessment we can based on the founders, based on their attention and have, like I said, the starting line that these founders are on today is much more sophisticated than I was as a first time CEO right out of college.