Ben Werdmuller @benwerd@mastodon.social

"So the solution has to be to build ethically and to meet a user's need in the most direct way possible. Build something that people really want, and do it ethically, while not making the ethics the differentiator. You'll capture some early adopters through the ethics of your work, but you'll get the bulk of your customers by serving their self-interest." https://werd.io/2019/doing-well-while-doing-good

A statement on today's social media summit, and how my code is being used to spread white supremacy. https://werd.io/2019/trumps-social-media-summit-and-me

Every month I list a round-up of the books and notable articles I've read. Here's my list for June. https://werd.io/2019/heres-what-i-read-in-june

Every month, I publish a round-up of the books and notable articles I've read. Here's my list for May. If you read just one book, pick up Evicted. https://werd.io/2019/heres-what-i-read-in-may

I believe it's important for everyone to speak out. https://werd.io/2019/pro-choice-is-pro-freedom

If you're at Blockchain Week in NYC next week, we're running an NFT token meetup. And you can actually buy tickets on the Ethereum blockchain.

Click here to RSVP with your wallet-enabled browser: https://tickets.unlock-protocol.com/event/0x5865Ff2CBd045Ef1cfE19739df19E83B32b783b4

I'd love to see you there.

#blockchain #blockchainweeknyc #blockchainnews #ethereum #dapps

It's been about a year since I did this, and it's been incredibly useful to me in the past. Could you give me some honest feedback? It'll take you 2 minutes or less, and it's completely anonymous.

https://ben1006.typeform.com/to/WizMor

I could have titled this, "moving forwards, not looking back". I wrote a piece on coping with failure.

https://werd.io/2019/building-towers-not-tunnels

Thinking about how much I appreciate @Gargron for building and continuing to work on this platform. Working on something like this is a big undertaking, and sometimes thankless. So: thank you. It's meaningful work and I'm glad there are developers like you in the world.

The alt-right is disgusted with platforms like Patreon, and is trying to create its own decentralized alternatives. It's doomed to fail - and Patreon etc are in the right. Here's why.

https://werd.io/2019/patreon-and-twitter-are-right-about-freedom-of-speech

Here’s what I’ve been working on lately, as part of the Unlock team: a decentralized, permissionless protocol for creators to get paid for their work on the web. https://link.medium.com/nWzQlSj8LT

Companies are realizing that, yes, they do need to own their own websites after all. But they're still having conversations on social media, which are subject to the same issues. I believe we'll see more self-hosted discussion communities this year. https://werd.io/2019/indie-communities-and-making-your-audience-known

Each year, the Nieman Lab solicit predictions for the future of journalism. Mine is a call to action for publishers to help build the internet they need: http://www.niemanlab.org/2019/01/the-platform-tide-is-turning/

I've decided to go dark on all social media, including Mastodon, for the rest of 2018. Here's why I'm doing it - and how to stay in touch with me.

https://werd.io/2018/im-going-dark-on-social-media-for-the-rest-of

‘“There are direct links between the political movements behind Brexit and Trump. We’ve got to recognise the bigger picture here. This is being co-ordinated across national borders by very wealthy people in a way we really haven’t seen before,” he added.’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/17/arron-banks-emails-steve-bannon-brexit-campaign-funds

😐