This all sounds so lovely. Except that we all know gaining new subscribers with consistent posting was possible up until around March this year. It was so true, it nearly blew my mind. And I thought, “This is finally a platform that might work for me.” And then in March, the iron curtain fell and gaining new subscribers with consistent posting…ended. Your algorithm is going the way of all others, sadly.
It happened later for me, but otherwise this is right on. I'm following the best practices listed here--and have been consistently since Notes rolled out--and my growth slowed to almost nothing over the summer. New subscriptions are barely keeping pace with the normal handful of unsubscribes each week.
I suspect big name writers are coming to Substack and bringing their audiences with them, but those audiences aren't really here to broaden their reading to other 'stacks. As usual, the rising tide doesn't lift all boats.
I also wonder if the recommendation algorithm has collapsed--I have a number of Substacks kind enough to recommend me, and that used to bring in decent numbers, but that too seems to have flatlined.
MaryAnn, that is certainly an accurate assessment. i have wondered if substack only favors the "big tribe" writers because they bring in revenue - while caging and capping the smaller names under the illusion of being more widely promoted and seen.
Yes, that is a big part of what's happening. I also suggest looking into substack's owners and who they partnered with for content moderation and who they've put in charge of algorithm manipulation (all are ideologically committed to a cause) for even greater insight on what's happening and why. This is touched upon here https://substack.com/@headandheart1/note/c-109156403 and here https://substack.com/@eaarthnet/note/p-174027307
IMHO, because social medias are by far the largest form of communication, connection and information sharing on the planet, and have a profoundly impact the social cohesion and human zeitgist on the planet, such fundamental building blocks of society should NOT have been given to anti-Golden-Rule billionaire predators whose last concern in the world is human well-being, IMHO.
(To learn how the social medias were developed in the first place, by which military, and how they were given to empire-connected billionaires with intimate ties to the military-industrial conplex who share the same hierarchical agenda of the domination of the few over the many, to learn about all that i highly recommend Yasha Levine's profound and eye-openingbook 'Surveillance Valley' on the origins of the internet and social medias in particular)
Yolanda we have done a full year study and turned it into not just a course but a map of the ecosystem. weld it like a sword. have an amazing 2026. www.paidsubstack.com
This is exactly the issue. The troll fans of high profile polarizing pundits (specialists on every 20% culture war issue) from other platforms heard there’s $ to be made, are actively destroying a social experience that felt a bit above the fray until the feeds came along.
You broke a wonderful UX!
I had someone call me a dirty c*nt in comments on Substack last week. Thanks for nothing. I’ll likely watch for another month then cancel all my writer subscriptions and delete the app. I get attacked with hate enough on other platforms for my moderate libertarian views.
I don't use the Substack app, nor do I write my own articles; I just subscribe to the people I'm interested in reading—some paid, some not—and comment. However, I too have been called a c*unt and more by a few trolls, who do nothing but insult people, never state why they've insulted them, or explain what they even disagree with.
I hope my message here will be heard and taken seriously by the people responsible for the atmosphere governing commenters, since there is regrettably no person at Substack we can give feedback to or request assistance from for problems on the platform:
I previously blocked a troll who went by the name "Peter." I noticed all he did (if he was even a human being) was make vulgar, insulting criticisms to multiple commenters. When he called me a c*unt, I replied simply "You need to expand your vocabulary," which inspired him to block me. Fine with me.
Just recently, however, it appears the same obnoxious troll reentered the conversation, this time with a new handle, "Peter Tucker." He replied to a commenter something like "What do you do," complete with vulgar insults about their lack of action on an issue. So I replied to Peter Tucker's comment, "What do YOU do?" and said something to the effect that all he was doing was swearing at and insulting people (can't remember the exact words, but that was the gist).
Today he replied with no answer to my question, but he did accuse me of being "fucking gullible" if I believed "Bernie," a name which had not even been mentioned in the thread or by me in particular. I replied to his comment, pointing out that disconnect, and told him he sounded just like the "Peter" I had previously blocked. Then I blocked him. I had also noticed his "profile" stated "Pizzz man," and had asked him on another thread what a Pizzz man was. He never replied to that, unless it was the Direct Message I was notified by email he had sent me, but that disappeared after I had blocked him and before I read it.
Here's what I'd like to know, Substack: Do you vet subscribers to prevent such trolls from simply changing their "handle" and reinfecting the discussion? I think not, and I think you need to fix this. Do you not know the actual names and emails of all subscribers? Do you sus out bots, trolls, and impersonators?
If not, and you want to offer a true alternative to the social media I have been boycotting for decades, you need to do better. You need to provide a human contact we can go to for assistance. You need to eliminate bots and trolls like "Peter." I had previously tried to "Report" this person, and all I got from the platform was this message: "Something went wrong," so I was not even able to report him, nor was I ever informed what went wrong or how to fix it. Your lack of availability to user issues like this is destroying my trust in this platform.
I have another question: Does Substack intend to let Peter Thiel's Palantir software scrub your subscriber and commenter data, share our contact info and true names with the current authoritarian regime that has taken over our democracy, and use that information to help them persecute us for exercising our right to free speech, as this current Trump administration has announced they intend to do?
I have never subscribed to ANY social media before for two reasons: 1) Zero privacy, stealing, sharing, and selling all users' personal information; and 2) I refuse to be subjected to the toxic and addictive algorithms that have ruined our society.
We are crying out for a trusted, well monitored, secure place where our privacy is absolutely protected, we can exchange ideas in a civil conversation, and the profit motive takes a back seat to algorithms designed to reward contributors based on merit alone. There is a HUGE market for such a platform. If you do not address these questions and problems, you will only lose subscribers. You build trust by actions over time, but you can lose it in a day.
Please reply to ALL my questions. Better yet, send me a human contact I can discuss the issues with both now and in the future.
I am fully aware that I did NOT advocate against free speech as defined in the First Amendment, which grants the right to free speech—unless it incites violence or threatens public safety—but only as it can be enforced by the Federal government. I am all for that, including your right or "Peter's" right to compose his own Substack articles, preach on a street corner, or host his own podcast—because I have the right to NOT read or listen to him.
However, there is no right to free speech—nor should there be—when it comes to private enterprise, and there are myriad ways a person can be civilly prosecuted for speech that harms a person, i.e. defamation, harassment, or emotional damages.
Substack is a private enterprise and has every right to create an atmosphere that promotes CIVIL discussion and exchange of ideas. In order to facilitate that, it also has every right to set rules for discussion. THAT is what I'm advocating for: decency and manners on this social platform.
Anyone who does nothing but personally insult and swear at people while bringing zero information to the discussion is a toxic influence, of no value whatsoever, and should be kicked out of the discussion. Those who want to subscribe to a Nazi porn bar filled with insults, hate and anger are free to join X. I am simply advocating for an alternative to Meta and X, which use algorithms to promote fear, anger and hate for profit alone. Of course Substack has every right to reject my suggestion, but I received an email asking for our feedback, so I gave mine.
In addition, if you read my comment above you will notice I was questioning how well Substack checks accounts for bots who aren't even real people.
Oh, I’m aware of all the standard arguments; I’ve picked them apart piece by piece over the years and examined them. They don’t hold up to scrutiny.
You’re likely unaware that incorporation is fraud, and how and why that is so. You’re likely unaware of many things that I’m aware of and factor into my thinking. I don’t think I can explain all of it to you without making this reply the length of a book.
Free speech can only be absolute. The corporation (which shouldn’t exist) shouldn’t have a “state” it can enlist as its personal army to oppose an individual. The state (which shouldn’t exist) shouldn’t have corporations to enact via policy what the state is prohibited from doing by its own laws.
“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, for it is the merger of state and corporate power.” — Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator
And to answer your last question: Substack's leadership knows the shills and bots are here, but either doesn't care or isn't allowed to do anything about it. Substack's leadership is almost surely members of the group that sends the bots and shills. Your pleas for moderation are ultimately laughed at or ignored. This place is slated for the same demolition I just watched happen at the last two networks I was on.
That saddens me a bit especially after I just found this app not too long ago and just startet posting since a month 🙈 I mean I still love sharing my work but it still is sad that I'll probably never find people who might think like me if they never see it 💧
hey my mint, check out what we just released after having the WattyAlan reports team investigate the ecosystem for a year. we rolled all our reports into not just a course but a 16 module substack bible.. check it out, and make 2026 a super year on substack. www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as everyone should have the true platform mechanics as a foundation to build from, adam.
I actually dislike that metaphor - and you address it directly: A rising tide does NOT lift leaky boats. The "rising tide" is lifting a lot of billionaire yachts.
We've all felt a total and even shocking change over the past year. So many of us have written about it in countless posts and notes.
Now, even writers with 10,000 subscribers are considered tiny. When a mega mainstream celebrity comes in and has half a million, even a quarter of a million subscribers, what does an account with 10k and maybe only the _potential_ to grow to 20, 30k even matter anymore?
Yes, I’ve wondered the same about recommendations. I think they were far more useful before, but ever since they removed the button from our profiles, barely anyone seems to recommend new publications. It’s just too cumbersome now.
tugba, have a look att what we just released. all the answers. check the 16 module titles. make 2026 a super substack year. www.paidsubstack.com kindest regards adam.
User experience sucks now, too. This could have been more like LinkedIn, instead I get called horrid things because I like certain journalists. Algorithms are going to destroy civility.
ha ha, theres an engineered perspective built into all platforms for various reasons, in january 2025 i did a long study with claude on a piece of alex dugins work regarding some ancient russian philosophy... very interesting indeed. 4 weeks ago I wanted to do a follow up on the same work after a discussion i had with a greek prof.. i opened the file i had the work in, dropped it into claude and typed what we where going to achieve.. the machine refused point blank and said we do anything else but no way are we supporting that fascist and then had a 200 word rant at me.... after i bashed its chip sets around with some machine phsycology it confessed everything about its headline learning.. nuts... as for the amazing substack platform the last bastion of free speach its got problems, we documented a years study of the ecosystem and just released a 16 module course. take a look it might be of interest. www.paidsubstack.com kind regards adam.
And you can never reach a human being to find out what you might be doing wrong and could do better, and good luck with finding comprehensive instructions on using notes for maximum effect in one place. (What good is posting a note if it is only seen by people following my note? Is the only way to reach wider to post responses to notes from those you follow and include a link to an article of your own that relates to what you're commenting on? How do you get a broader audience to see your notes?) How do you "post to the feed." Is that different than just posting an article from my laptop? I can never find answers to these basic question. Do I need to post my article from the app in order for it to be in non-subscriber's feeds? Even this article doesn't answer those questions.
good point. I am new here and am investigating how much I want to invest into this app. this conversation has been very informative. I think that having a REAL human being or a small team of trained individuals to assess these issues can definitely help. that and perhaps having more of a small business model mindset when it comes to algorithms. it seems that the greed model is built into the business of social media platforms. Just saying my little 2 cents.
hey Ervin, we just released our 16 module course, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE PUT THE WATTYALAN REPORTS TEAM ON IT FOR A YEAR!. invest in that,we priced it super cheap unlike the ridiculous prices some people charge for totally outdated advice and coaching calls. And then you will know 100% wether its worth your time or not. we say yes, but it takes a lot of work. check it out its a beast. www.paidsubstack.com wishing you the best for 2026
hi david, we just released a 16 module course after 1 years investigation into all platforms and the substack eco system, check ity, share it to everyone and 2026 will be a better year for people on substack. adam. www.paidsubstack.com
Exactly the same happened to me. And honestly, when you look at some of the viral Notes, you just think, no thanks. I’m not going to post the thousandth Carrie Bradshaw photo just to stay visible. Sorry, but whatever the algorithm is doing, it seems to reward really shallow content, at least on my feed.
Tuğba, I'm glad you made this comment. I remember you being in my feed years ago when things were different, I enjoyed reading your notes. Today, yes, it's all become live-laugh-love, like those faux farmhouse wooden "Welcome" signs made to be propped outside your front door.
Oh, nice to reconnect, Michael 🥰 Honestly, it's the first time in over two years that I've switched the tab to following only, as I just can't deal with some of the shallow content anymore. I purposefully stay away from Instagram already. Yes, of course, I could always not use notes, but I'm not entirely against notes, as I find other writers and good articles too. However, their so-called "feed" should stop rewarding shallow content and start rewarding writers who are doing great work.
I've also found good writers and pieces on it, but I mostly avoid it because I find the negativity and bad vibes to be overwhelming. Unfortunately I think this article and Substack's complete non-response to the long scroll of disappointment and criticism just cinches it, it's going to be corporate kiddie pool & shallow waters from here on out ...
Sorry to be an interloper but I’m gravitated to your exact brand of snark and followed both of you. I’m also repelled by anything faux farmhouse and the overall bland bouquet of content these days.
Exactly this. I publish quality work regularly and my subs have slowed dramatically after 2 years of steady growth. I also post to Notes at least a few times a day and rarely get much traction there. I’m recommended by many and get a trickle now and then from those but nothing like before. It’s frustrating trying to chase the latest feature.
hey julie,we know why, we studied system analysis of the substack eco system for a whole year, here is the result, www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere we want substack to be an awsome place. if everyone has the 16 modules as a foundation it would be a totally different platform of high quality content and very happy people. adam.
I agree. My own site's growth in TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS leaped up this April but then completely flatlined until August when it started to grow again. The growth since August has all been in FREE SUBSCRIBERS. For PAID SUBSCRIBERS, the story is much WORSE: growth has been flat since April of 2024. I'm still EXACTLY where I was clear back then.
My experience exactly as a new creator on here! Started in October 2025z Quality work, consistent posts/notes, and my work is getting seen by maybe 10 people a post. It seems impossible to get new eyeballs on my work on here, and I’m wondering if it’s just a colossal waste of time…
your not wrong Amanda, we noticed with many of our platforms. we decided to among all our research projects we would do a year long study of the substack ecosystem, we have just released a 16 module course to get everyone up to speed, no matter where your substack sits. its not just a course its an all round go to for every problem you hit, check it out and spread the word, we want to see everyone have a better time on substack as we value language and want to protect it, thats all in module 6. adam. www.paidsubstack.com
IF it is on subscriptions where you are a free subscriber, the price to pay is that you will get asked again and again if you want to subscribe so that you can UPGRADE. However, if you're a paid subscriber, I have no idea. I haven't experienced that where I pay. Instead wherever the author places a box that asks if people want to suscribe, I just see "SUBSCRIBED," and I never get any emails asking me to subscribe to any where I'm a paid subscriber.
I’m pretty bummed about this new feature and would like the opportunity to turn it off. I only want to see the content I follow and subscribe to. I have zero interest in having a SM experience. Thanks for your consideration.
Same ol' same ol'. Please, tech folks, someone start a platform that is merit based, grants us our right to privacy, HONORS your promises and initial commitments, and vets subscribers for bots and trolls.
We need startups who will put building a platform based on privacy, security, and trust, and—most of all—who will NOT sell out to the filthy rich monopolies who invariably buy them out as soon as they see they're taking subscribers away from them: sociopaths like Marc Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and YouTube (owned by Google/Alphabet), who lie and deceive their users, sell their data, and have no respect for their privacy.
Oh wow! I'm a Newbie to Notes, and was just considering a first post there. Earlier this evening, I was reading a plethora of (obviously fake reports) about the incredible responses nd benefits of Notes. Thanks for the heads up.
That's the problem in a nutshell. VCs always want quick big profits, which is a horrible incentive for anything worthwhile.
Wouldn't it be possible to start small, advertise it's the only site that honors your privacy, doesn't use destructive algorithms, and charges a small monthly subscription? Instagram only had 12 employees when Fuckerberg bought it out because it was so popular he was losing subscribers and knew he couldn't make anything better. Why do all those startups sell out to a monster when they have a popular business? Greed is NOT good; it's ruining our society.
We have to get a movement going that FORCES a toggle on or off for algorithmic feeds. Or lose your Section 230 protection. The algorithm IS editorial, cannot call yourself a utility AND use algorithms to curate what users see!
It’s life or death for some. We aren’t taking care of our kids, literally destroying mental health of generations of sensitive people.
Amen—except Section 230 should be repealed regardless; it's what allows these sicko billionaire tech bros to get away with inciting murder, hate, and persecution without ever being held responsible for the proven damages they've caused. No other industry in this country can get away with that. There is a clear distinction between a utility like a landline phone system and the internet, which is controlled by human made algorithms.
Same, knowing there's a feed as the first screen actually makes me avoid opening Substack at this point. Wish I could simply select a different homescreen at least. They need to stay on brand and return to focusing on the subscription part.
This honestly makes me so sad. I love that Substack wants to elevate different voices and help readers find creators they might not otherwise find, but I almost think it would be more enjoyable to just have it be totally random. I'm so tired of algorithms (and the people behind them) curating things for me. If you want me to subscribe and pay, focus on showing me things that are interesting or smart, no matter the topic. As a creator, I would love to be able to put the most energy into making my newletter the best it can be and spend less time trying to work the algorithm and the newsfeed and posting and liking and commenting and engaging so people can find me. In the end it is a 'time spent on the app' situation, and it didn't have to be this way.
I think I understand where you're coming from, but I have a different issue that I've got to conclude is just my ignorance and lack of intelligence with Social Media since I became "elderly."
I've found a few creators I absolutely adore... like Grey Galaxy and the Broom Closet. But even when I subscribed to what I thought I was subscribing to, it didn't turn out that way. Instead, it looks like there are "sub" stacks under the main that aren't delineated clearly. So, I end up a paid subscriber to the Creator (I'm assuming) -- but not to the "section" of the creator's stack I really wanted. This has been SO disillusioning. I have to straighten it out, or just clear out everything and blow it off. I don't have an unlimited amount of money for subscribing to anything... even if it's only 5 or 10 dollars a month - especially never knowing if and how much trump is going to cut from SS, and whether or not he'll allow release of Fed retirement annuities. I'm trying to get exactly what I want, while trying to support the creators of what I want, and being cast into four or five separate parts of their personality and or writing, it feels. Gods, whatever happened to have a list with boxes to check off as to which you'd like to subscribe? Am I just too old, wishing for the older, clearer, simpler way of doing things?
No, you're not too old. Totally agree with everything you say. The problem is every tech platform puts profits before people or the communities they so profoundly affect.
Cory Doctorow has written about this and offers solutions to how to fix the "enshittification" of the internet. Substack, please read it and follow his advice. If we completely lose our democracy, you can look in the mirror and blame your greedy selves.
not at all sandy, we just launched a 16 module cubstack course, the result of a on year study. so think if it takes 16 modules and 128k words to understand the full ecosystem dont be hard on your self my love. we made it super cheap at $59.99 to make it as accessable to everyone. I cant gift it to you but i can gift you a life time comp subscription to WattyAlan reports.. subscribe for free and when im over there i will comp you. the course www.paidsubstack.com check it out, even if its not worth it for you as just a reader please share it as we want to help as many people understand the platform they are having problems with. have a super 2026, kindest regards adam.
hey there, we just launched a fully up to date 16 module course that wont leave your substack side, every stumbling block hit you will find a module to reference. the result of a one year study. www.paidsubstack.com kind regards and best wishes for 2026, adam
The algorithms on every platform stand between you and your audience. It is awful. The algorithms apparently think nobody is interested in my content. But if I post on a non-algo platform like Reddit, there is plenty of engagement.
hey dakara yes you feel it correct, substack provides shareable assets to platforms that will directly shadow ban you for sharing the link.. hideous situation, we had very successful platforms and then we started on substack, shared our work to our audience and the thing flatlined.. we had to bin them completely. and start over with new everything, we just released the result of a oe year study, check it out, www.paidsubstack.com please share it everywhere we want to help as many people as we can, hence silly cheap price, for everything. 16 monster modules. imagine it took 138 thousand words to explain the substack ecosystem... hilariuos. wishing you the best for 2026. adam
I came to Substack to escape algo-driven slop proliferation that sought to trap me in a platform for enshittification purposes, and now I will leave Substack to escape algo-driven slop proliferation that seeks to trap me in a platform for enshittification purposes.
"The word “algorithm” went south at some point, and I get it"
No you don't, Mike! You really, truly, 100% do not get it. If you did you wouldn't be trying to explain things that we all already understand.
Kindred, i felt the same way - like why is this guy not saying anything new and inspiring when so many of us are trapped in echo chambers together? There are many "unpopular" subjects, and i imagine should we leak hint of them we will be "jailed" with others who spoke that same truth.
The reason is that "machine learning" engineers do not want to create a sustainable ecosystem in which many niches can proliferate over the long run; they want to create dominant narratives that drive heavy "engagement" -- which means being bombarded with advertisements microtargeted through invasive surveillance -- over the short run.
They are counting on the fact that we have too much invested to leave the platform.
Seeing all this talk of "but my subscriber growth slowed down" - THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. We get pulled into platforms, everything's great for a minute, and then the honeymoon ends. Never trust any single platform or company, and don't waste time trying to figure out an algorithm. Do great work, expand your creative community, and get creative in where your work appears.
As one of those who was talking about subscriber growth, I do agree with you. I was mainly reacting to the original post, which is giving "if you're not growing you just need to work harder" vibes... when in fact something is appreciably different under the hood around here lately. I wish they'd just be up front about that.
All that said, you're right. There's a bit of magical thinking among some writers who expect the platform to do all/most of the work for them. Substack has been a growth machine for many of us and no longer is. So people who want to expand their reach need to look beyond Substack and think about other means of engagement. Collaborations, podcasts, events, other products... it's going to look different for different people. It's a bummer though.
The exact same thing happened on Medium. I've been writing a mix of personal essays, humor, and professional stories about UX. I've steadily gained followers, email subscribers, publish 4 stories a month, am a writer for several high profile publications...in other words, doing the work. Yet my already small earnings have dropped off to almost nothing. The feed is full of slop, to be honest. It overwhelms quality content. And the powers that be keep trying to tell us that things are great.
hey chris we experienced this not only on substack but the moment we shared substack assets to our other platform we were shadow banned and the work we had built up was destroyed.. thats not substacks fault entirly as thats platform polotics but to note substack themselves reported on it and changed nothing with the shareable assets so everyone one is feeling crushed. we did a full year study and just released this to help. www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as we want to see people enjoy being creative not feel like they are not seen. have a great 2026 chris, adam
Oh, I saw that stuff later in that post. “Just engage more.” UGGGG. Yeah, right. That said, you’re right, time to explore the other 3847829292 ways to find and reach an audience.
I agree with their need to be up front about what has been happening with paid subscriptions staying flat for months. I didn't experience that in times past, and I feel like, rather than really educating us on how to make the feed work, they are mostly pitching the value they want us to believe it has. What I KNOW is that my paid subscriber growth was better prior to the introduction of the app and its feed than it is now. So, I feel I'm being sold a narrative about how much better it is working. It certainly is NOT working better on my end. Seems more like a sales pitch.
I agree that this is how it works, but I think people are still entitled to their anger. That pattern shouldn't exist in the first place. I'm not going to start calmly accepting that every platform will pull the rug out from under me just because others have done so before
hey Adrianna, awsome name. its platform polotics and they are all competing against each other, we did a full year long study and just released this to help, www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as we want people to enjoy what they do not struggle and feel crushed. have a super 2026, adam
I agree that you need to let your anger cause you to express the problem. In some cases, maybe the creators of the site just need to see that, but I don't see them responding to comments I leave anywhere, so maybe they just post what they have to say then pay no attention (or I just don't spend enough time reading the comments to see their response to others).
I completely agree with you: both the platform people and a lot of users are trapped in the numbers game (for various and particular reasons). Also, I too believe that only quality can elevate this place and all participants to the next levels, not quantity.
Well, we were right all along, Seth 😂 The thing is, even in our in-person writer meet-ups, we still call it Substack meetup, but we now have other amazing writers from different platforms too. Because, in the end, I always say in my intro that Substack is just another platform, and we know from experience that platforms come and go.
I often wonder if being muted which I know I definitely am affects my reach. To have 29k followers and get low traction feels frustrating. So being seen and being seen and then subscribed to would be the dream! ✨ thank you for all you do and the transparency team Substack!
How can you tell if you’re being muted? I can’t seem to figure out why my Notes fall into a void no matter what - regardless of format, topic, whatever. I keep plugging along but to read how Notes is this great growth engine & have my Notes doing nothing is so frustrating 😕
Loads of people feel like this Katie. It’s like nothing, nothing, not much x 1million then random viral note that doesn’t always connect. To reassure you I’ve never gone viral and I’ve built two bestselling publications. To answer your question - because there were huge announcements on notes about Substack educators being muted and people told me when they announcer their exit. Still waiting for my thick skin to grow! 😂
Thank you, Claire - I needed to hear that :) And also I'd just like to state how unfair I feel the muting is since people like you - and other wonderful teachers - are needed & necessary!
That’s super kind of you to say. I’d love to know if my theory is right because as you can imagine with 29k followers I’m not eager for people to follow in my footsteps - I want to help them kindle their voice and build legacy in their work. One of my colleagues here just got a book deal and one of my members too - they barely use notes but did have bigger platforms else where… ahhh the beautiful game!
hey katie, we did a year long study and just released this, check it out, www.paidsubstack.com share it every where as we want to help people understand what should be a simple platform, buts part of a huge ecosystem and its full of problems. enjoy, wishing you a super 2026, adam
Hi Claire, do you think the Substack algorithm muted you? To be honest, I agree with the most liked comment. Since May, something has happened, and nothing seems to be moving forward. None of my notes are being seen, and I've actually stopped growing. Thank goodness it's not my job, but it's still annoying to see all these Carrie Bradshaw notes still going viral instead of promoting the great work writers are doing. Also, I'm not sure what happened to recommendations, as that was a great feature, but they just removed it from our profiles, and now it's cumbersome to recommend anyone.
No I know that individual people did and I’m worried that affects my reach to the 29k followers Substack say I have. Lol Carrie Bradshaw - we love her BUT! Yeah it’s changed and we have to just do our best work. I still get new subs every day but the churn when I email is higher and outpaces the growth so ultimately since March I’m going backwards. This is why I’m trying to understand whether I should give more energy to notes - I post on there every day multiple times a day.
And do you know how many followers? I think all my notes get a little sprinkle of something - profile visits, more followers, the odd subscribe but it’s not replacing the organic growth we all lost in Spring.
That's it right there - the odd sprinkle of every little thing. It's hard to even pick out patterns; it's very random. My most popular "thing" on Notes is not a Note I posted - it's a reply to someone else's Note. It has generated more followers and replies than anything related to my own niche and topic. I don't want that. I was just engaging with another Substack writer about THEIR thing!
I have wondered if that is the ONLY way to make notes reach a wider audience. Unless you post a note with a link to your own article on the same topic in someone else's notes, mining their audience (something I don't like to do), so far as I can see your note reaches no one but the audience that has chosen to follow your notes from your own subscriber base. I try to make sure I write original meaningful content that contributes to the conversation when I do post a link to an article of mine on the same topic; but if there is a better way to broaden one's note audience, I'd like to know what it is.
I still don't understand how to get anyone who doesn't already subscribe to me or follow me to see my notes, unless I post on someone else's note. Is that what you are saying: it works best to write fresh notes in reply to notes from other writers of other substacks but to NOT include a link to your own articles?
It’s usually way higher than our subscriber number but I’m just not sure if even 1/10th of them see my stuff. As an experiment I went and liked some of your notes as I follow you but rarely see your stuff. Then I opened the app and there were three more of your notes shown to me!
Right! So what I teach my newbies is to like everything you like and mute everything you don’t for two weeks! That’s all it takes to have a nice feed! As for being seen I’ll wait for Substack to answer my question. 🙋🏽
Right? It is extremely frustrating to those of us who (naively) believed we could grow a following on here 'if only we worked hard enough and posted consistently enough.' I'm not quitting, because I genuinely love writing, but it is tough not to get bitter when a random picture of Carrie Bradshaw gets 1000s of likes while a well thought out academic essay barely gets shown to anyone.
hey ashley, we just released this, www.paidsubstack.com the result of a one year study of the platform and its ecosystem. wishing you a very super 2026, adam
hahaha we (really) dropped £42 thousand pounds investigating the substack ecosystem over a whole year, After we moved onto substack and used its assets to share back to our other platforms and then got destroyed by shadow bans for sharing the substack assets.. F bombs were dropped faster than in ww2. we just released this, www.paidsubstack.com it even suprised us at the size of it. check it out and please share it as we want to help everyone do well on substack and not feel crushed or be dragged along some silly outdated substack advice. wishing you the best for 2026 Frederick , adam
I’m considering canceling Substack. I have enough hate in my ‘feed’ on other platforms. The rage algorithms are destroying a country I deeply love. Substack was founded on 1A intellectual discourse and had less aggressive hatred. I’ve now been called worse things on Substack than X. Corporations should be responsible for being good community members inside the US. You’re social engineering adding a feed to serve me more hatred, and to do it with so much data that this is dangerous, is problematic. I’m seriously looking for businesses that actually care about humans.
see moebius you do need 16 modules and 138k words to trample around in. where are you at are you done for the year or still pushing on. I dont think I have a start stop in me TBH, Far to much going on with this phosphate problem.
Except that I don't want the deciding what is good for others to see. They may decide I am not good just for their own political reasons. I don't trust the guardians at the gate of any publication to allow free speech in an unbiased manner. If they just policed for obvious insults and personal hatred, that would be OK. But we've seen with many sites that the government pressed the sites to censor content it didn't agree with. Few things could be worse for a democratic republic than censorship of views that oppose what the government is doing.
You fail miserably at that in my "For You" feed, so now I only use the "Following" feed - which kind of defeats the purpose of a feed since I'm already following those people.
Of course, I can select from other topic areas of interest - and I do limit my choices there to what I'm interested in.
But the "For you" feed in my case is full of right-wing nutcases and Zionists excusing Israeli genocide - because I've mentioned those topics in my Notes. Maybe that's the only people on Substack with opinions on those subjects - but in any event, it renders the "For you" feed worthless.
How about you "demystify" the TOS and get rid of all the neo-nazis, abusers, misogynists and miscellaneous other trolls and then oh, I dunno, adhere to your own TOS...? ?
I reject the algo! It makes it much harder to find likeminded people who care more about their work than their number of followers. Maybe it’s just my own lack of desire to build a social media presence, but it really turns me off to see the same regurgitated articles about “growing your platform” or going viral on my homepage day after day. And the notes tab is ridiculous. There’s an app for that already… I come here to read long form content that’s written by regular people like me. Or at least I’d like to.
This all sounds so lovely. Except that we all know gaining new subscribers with consistent posting was possible up until around March this year. It was so true, it nearly blew my mind. And I thought, “This is finally a platform that might work for me.” And then in March, the iron curtain fell and gaining new subscribers with consistent posting…ended. Your algorithm is going the way of all others, sadly.
It happened later for me, but otherwise this is right on. I'm following the best practices listed here--and have been consistently since Notes rolled out--and my growth slowed to almost nothing over the summer. New subscriptions are barely keeping pace with the normal handful of unsubscribes each week.
I suspect big name writers are coming to Substack and bringing their audiences with them, but those audiences aren't really here to broaden their reading to other 'stacks. As usual, the rising tide doesn't lift all boats.
I also wonder if the recommendation algorithm has collapsed--I have a number of Substacks kind enough to recommend me, and that used to bring in decent numbers, but that too seems to have flatlined.
MaryAnn, that is certainly an accurate assessment. i have wondered if substack only favors the "big tribe" writers because they bring in revenue - while caging and capping the smaller names under the illusion of being more widely promoted and seen.
Yes, that is a big part of what's happening. I also suggest looking into substack's owners and who they partnered with for content moderation and who they've put in charge of algorithm manipulation (all are ideologically committed to a cause) for even greater insight on what's happening and why. This is touched upon here https://substack.com/@headandheart1/note/c-109156403 and here https://substack.com/@eaarthnet/note/p-174027307
IMHO, because social medias are by far the largest form of communication, connection and information sharing on the planet, and have a profoundly impact the social cohesion and human zeitgist on the planet, such fundamental building blocks of society should NOT have been given to anti-Golden-Rule billionaire predators whose last concern in the world is human well-being, IMHO.
(To learn how the social medias were developed in the first place, by which military, and how they were given to empire-connected billionaires with intimate ties to the military-industrial conplex who share the same hierarchical agenda of the domination of the few over the many, to learn about all that i highly recommend Yasha Levine's profound and eye-openingbook 'Surveillance Valley' on the origins of the internet and social medias in particular)
Bingo!! That's the root of it
Yolanda we have done a full year study and turned it into not just a course but a map of the ecosystem. weld it like a sword. have an amazing 2026. www.paidsubstack.com
Same here. Pretty much to the letter.
This is exactly the issue. The troll fans of high profile polarizing pundits (specialists on every 20% culture war issue) from other platforms heard there’s $ to be made, are actively destroying a social experience that felt a bit above the fray until the feeds came along.
You broke a wonderful UX!
I had someone call me a dirty c*nt in comments on Substack last week. Thanks for nothing. I’ll likely watch for another month then cancel all my writer subscriptions and delete the app. I get attacked with hate enough on other platforms for my moderate libertarian views.
I don't use the Substack app, nor do I write my own articles; I just subscribe to the people I'm interested in reading—some paid, some not—and comment. However, I too have been called a c*unt and more by a few trolls, who do nothing but insult people, never state why they've insulted them, or explain what they even disagree with.
I hope my message here will be heard and taken seriously by the people responsible for the atmosphere governing commenters, since there is regrettably no person at Substack we can give feedback to or request assistance from for problems on the platform:
I previously blocked a troll who went by the name "Peter." I noticed all he did (if he was even a human being) was make vulgar, insulting criticisms to multiple commenters. When he called me a c*unt, I replied simply "You need to expand your vocabulary," which inspired him to block me. Fine with me.
Just recently, however, it appears the same obnoxious troll reentered the conversation, this time with a new handle, "Peter Tucker." He replied to a commenter something like "What do you do," complete with vulgar insults about their lack of action on an issue. So I replied to Peter Tucker's comment, "What do YOU do?" and said something to the effect that all he was doing was swearing at and insulting people (can't remember the exact words, but that was the gist).
Today he replied with no answer to my question, but he did accuse me of being "fucking gullible" if I believed "Bernie," a name which had not even been mentioned in the thread or by me in particular. I replied to his comment, pointing out that disconnect, and told him he sounded just like the "Peter" I had previously blocked. Then I blocked him. I had also noticed his "profile" stated "Pizzz man," and had asked him on another thread what a Pizzz man was. He never replied to that, unless it was the Direct Message I was notified by email he had sent me, but that disappeared after I had blocked him and before I read it.
Here's what I'd like to know, Substack: Do you vet subscribers to prevent such trolls from simply changing their "handle" and reinfecting the discussion? I think not, and I think you need to fix this. Do you not know the actual names and emails of all subscribers? Do you sus out bots, trolls, and impersonators?
If not, and you want to offer a true alternative to the social media I have been boycotting for decades, you need to do better. You need to provide a human contact we can go to for assistance. You need to eliminate bots and trolls like "Peter." I had previously tried to "Report" this person, and all I got from the platform was this message: "Something went wrong," so I was not even able to report him, nor was I ever informed what went wrong or how to fix it. Your lack of availability to user issues like this is destroying my trust in this platform.
I have another question: Does Substack intend to let Peter Thiel's Palantir software scrub your subscriber and commenter data, share our contact info and true names with the current authoritarian regime that has taken over our democracy, and use that information to help them persecute us for exercising our right to free speech, as this current Trump administration has announced they intend to do?
I have never subscribed to ANY social media before for two reasons: 1) Zero privacy, stealing, sharing, and selling all users' personal information; and 2) I refuse to be subjected to the toxic and addictive algorithms that have ruined our society.
We are crying out for a trusted, well monitored, secure place where our privacy is absolutely protected, we can exchange ideas in a civil conversation, and the profit motive takes a back seat to algorithms designed to reward contributors based on merit alone. There is a HUGE market for such a platform. If you do not address these questions and problems, you will only lose subscribers. You build trust by actions over time, but you can lose it in a day.
Please reply to ALL my questions. Better yet, send me a human contact I can discuss the issues with both now and in the future.
Are you unaware that you just advocated AGAINST free speech?
I am fully aware that I did NOT advocate against free speech as defined in the First Amendment, which grants the right to free speech—unless it incites violence or threatens public safety—but only as it can be enforced by the Federal government. I am all for that, including your right or "Peter's" right to compose his own Substack articles, preach on a street corner, or host his own podcast—because I have the right to NOT read or listen to him.
However, there is no right to free speech—nor should there be—when it comes to private enterprise, and there are myriad ways a person can be civilly prosecuted for speech that harms a person, i.e. defamation, harassment, or emotional damages.
Substack is a private enterprise and has every right to create an atmosphere that promotes CIVIL discussion and exchange of ideas. In order to facilitate that, it also has every right to set rules for discussion. THAT is what I'm advocating for: decency and manners on this social platform.
Anyone who does nothing but personally insult and swear at people while bringing zero information to the discussion is a toxic influence, of no value whatsoever, and should be kicked out of the discussion. Those who want to subscribe to a Nazi porn bar filled with insults, hate and anger are free to join X. I am simply advocating for an alternative to Meta and X, which use algorithms to promote fear, anger and hate for profit alone. Of course Substack has every right to reject my suggestion, but I received an email asking for our feedback, so I gave mine.
In addition, if you read my comment above you will notice I was questioning how well Substack checks accounts for bots who aren't even real people.
Oh, I’m aware of all the standard arguments; I’ve picked them apart piece by piece over the years and examined them. They don’t hold up to scrutiny.
You’re likely unaware that incorporation is fraud, and how and why that is so. You’re likely unaware of many things that I’m aware of and factor into my thinking. I don’t think I can explain all of it to you without making this reply the length of a book.
Free speech can only be absolute. The corporation (which shouldn’t exist) shouldn’t have a “state” it can enlist as its personal army to oppose an individual. The state (which shouldn’t exist) shouldn’t have corporations to enact via policy what the state is prohibited from doing by its own laws.
“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, for it is the merger of state and corporate power.” — Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator
And to answer your last question: Substack's leadership knows the shills and bots are here, but either doesn't care or isn't allowed to do anything about it. Substack's leadership is almost surely members of the group that sends the bots and shills. Your pleas for moderation are ultimately laughed at or ignored. This place is slated for the same demolition I just watched happen at the last two networks I was on.
Oh, how delicious -- a shill pretending to complain about trolls.
I'm sure you've been called worse than a "dirty c*nt" -- as you deserve to be.
So, your line here is that someone called you a name, so you're taking your toys and going home? What are you, six?
That saddens me a bit especially after I just found this app not too long ago and just startet posting since a month 🙈 I mean I still love sharing my work but it still is sad that I'll probably never find people who might think like me if they never see it 💧
hey my mint, check out what we just released after having the WattyAlan reports team investigate the ecosystem for a year. we rolled all our reports into not just a course but a 16 module substack bible.. check it out, and make 2026 a super year on substack. www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as everyone should have the true platform mechanics as a foundation to build from, adam.
I actually dislike that metaphor - and you address it directly: A rising tide does NOT lift leaky boats. The "rising tide" is lifting a lot of billionaire yachts.
🔥
We've all felt a total and even shocking change over the past year. So many of us have written about it in countless posts and notes.
Now, even writers with 10,000 subscribers are considered tiny. When a mega mainstream celebrity comes in and has half a million, even a quarter of a million subscribers, what does an account with 10k and maybe only the _potential_ to grow to 20, 30k even matter anymore?
hey Micheal, we investigated and monitored that entire change. we just released this, check it, share it, everyone needs it. www.paidsubstack.com
Yes, I’ve wondered the same about recommendations. I think they were far more useful before, but ever since they removed the button from our profiles, barely anyone seems to recommend new publications. It’s just too cumbersome now.
tugba, have a look att what we just released. all the answers. check the 16 module titles. make 2026 a super substack year. www.paidsubstack.com kindest regards adam.
maryann, we investigated for a year. check out the result. it will clear up all your question. enjoy. www.paidsubstack.com
User experience sucks now, too. This could have been more like LinkedIn, instead I get called horrid things because I like certain journalists. Algorithms are going to destroy civility.
ha ha, theres an engineered perspective built into all platforms for various reasons, in january 2025 i did a long study with claude on a piece of alex dugins work regarding some ancient russian philosophy... very interesting indeed. 4 weeks ago I wanted to do a follow up on the same work after a discussion i had with a greek prof.. i opened the file i had the work in, dropped it into claude and typed what we where going to achieve.. the machine refused point blank and said we do anything else but no way are we supporting that fascist and then had a 200 word rant at me.... after i bashed its chip sets around with some machine phsycology it confessed everything about its headline learning.. nuts... as for the amazing substack platform the last bastion of free speach its got problems, we documented a years study of the ecosystem and just released a 16 module course. take a look it might be of interest. www.paidsubstack.com kind regards adam.
I noticed the same thing. Strong growth at first, then a sudden wall.
Doesn't seem to matter that I'm very consistent in posting.
And you can never reach a human being to find out what you might be doing wrong and could do better, and good luck with finding comprehensive instructions on using notes for maximum effect in one place. (What good is posting a note if it is only seen by people following my note? Is the only way to reach wider to post responses to notes from those you follow and include a link to an article of your own that relates to what you're commenting on? How do you get a broader audience to see your notes?) How do you "post to the feed." Is that different than just posting an article from my laptop? I can never find answers to these basic question. Do I need to post my article from the app in order for it to be in non-subscriber's feeds? Even this article doesn't answer those questions.
good point. I am new here and am investigating how much I want to invest into this app. this conversation has been very informative. I think that having a REAL human being or a small team of trained individuals to assess these issues can definitely help. that and perhaps having more of a small business model mindset when it comes to algorithms. it seems that the greed model is built into the business of social media platforms. Just saying my little 2 cents.
hey Ervin, we just released our 16 module course, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE PUT THE WATTYALAN REPORTS TEAM ON IT FOR A YEAR!. invest in that,we priced it super cheap unlike the ridiculous prices some people charge for totally outdated advice and coaching calls. And then you will know 100% wether its worth your time or not. we say yes, but it takes a lot of work. check it out its a beast. www.paidsubstack.com wishing you the best for 2026
hi david, we just released a 16 module course after 1 years investigation into all platforms and the substack eco system, check ity, share it to everyone and 2026 will be a better year for people on substack. adam. www.paidsubstack.com
hey patrick, check out this for all your answers, adam. www.paidsubstack.com
Exactly the same happened to me. And honestly, when you look at some of the viral Notes, you just think, no thanks. I’m not going to post the thousandth Carrie Bradshaw photo just to stay visible. Sorry, but whatever the algorithm is doing, it seems to reward really shallow content, at least on my feed.
Tuğba, I'm glad you made this comment. I remember you being in my feed years ago when things were different, I enjoyed reading your notes. Today, yes, it's all become live-laugh-love, like those faux farmhouse wooden "Welcome" signs made to be propped outside your front door.
Oh, nice to reconnect, Michael 🥰 Honestly, it's the first time in over two years that I've switched the tab to following only, as I just can't deal with some of the shallow content anymore. I purposefully stay away from Instagram already. Yes, of course, I could always not use notes, but I'm not entirely against notes, as I find other writers and good articles too. However, their so-called "feed" should stop rewarding shallow content and start rewarding writers who are doing great work.
I've also found good writers and pieces on it, but I mostly avoid it because I find the negativity and bad vibes to be overwhelming. Unfortunately I think this article and Substack's complete non-response to the long scroll of disappointment and criticism just cinches it, it's going to be corporate kiddie pool & shallow waters from here on out ...
Sorry to be an interloper but I’m gravitated to your exact brand of snark and followed both of you. I’m also repelled by anything faux farmhouse and the overall bland bouquet of content these days.
on point indeed.
Exactly this. I publish quality work regularly and my subs have slowed dramatically after 2 years of steady growth. I also post to Notes at least a few times a day and rarely get much traction there. I’m recommended by many and get a trickle now and then from those but nothing like before. It’s frustrating trying to chase the latest feature.
hey julie,we know why, we studied system analysis of the substack eco system for a whole year, here is the result, www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere we want substack to be an awsome place. if everyone has the 16 modules as a foundation it would be a totally different platform of high quality content and very happy people. adam.
Amen.
I agree. My own site's growth in TOTAL SUBSCRIBERS leaped up this April but then completely flatlined until August when it started to grow again. The growth since August has all been in FREE SUBSCRIBERS. For PAID SUBSCRIBERS, the story is much WORSE: growth has been flat since April of 2024. I'm still EXACTLY where I was clear back then.
:)
Yep. Keep calling them out Amanda!
My experience exactly as a new creator on here! Started in October 2025z Quality work, consistent posts/notes, and my work is getting seen by maybe 10 people a post. It seems impossible to get new eyeballs on my work on here, and I’m wondering if it’s just a colossal waste of time…
Morganne this is for you, we just released it, www.paidsubstack.com kindest, adam
your not wrong Amanda, we noticed with many of our platforms. we decided to among all our research projects we would do a year long study of the substack ecosystem, we have just released a 16 module course to get everyone up to speed, no matter where your substack sits. its not just a course its an all round go to for every problem you hit, check it out and spread the word, we want to see everyone have a better time on substack as we value language and want to protect it, thats all in module 6. adam. www.paidsubstack.com
IF it is on subscriptions where you are a free subscriber, the price to pay is that you will get asked again and again if you want to subscribe so that you can UPGRADE. However, if you're a paid subscriber, I have no idea. I haven't experienced that where I pay. Instead wherever the author places a box that asks if people want to suscribe, I just see "SUBSCRIBED," and I never get any emails asking me to subscribe to any where I'm a paid subscriber.
Repeatedly!!! Stopped commenting on most because it’s so aggravating. Especially on a laptop, without the SS app. Does anyone know if this is fixable?
I’m pretty bummed about this new feature and would like the opportunity to turn it off. I only want to see the content I follow and subscribe to. I have zero interest in having a SM experience. Thanks for your consideration.
We’ve been saying this for years and they do not care.
I can’t find the things I want to read unless I go to their profiles now - my app inbox is a mess 😂
🫂
yes its the most confused space indeed, the platforms full of issues. we studied it for a year, just released this to help, www.paidsubstack.com
Oh they care. Enough to piss off a huge percentage of users.
To clarify: They do not care what users want. They are only motivated financially.
100%.
Same ol' same ol'. Please, tech folks, someone start a platform that is merit based, grants us our right to privacy, HONORS your promises and initial commitments, and vets subscribers for bots and trolls.
We need startups who will put building a platform based on privacy, security, and trust, and—most of all—who will NOT sell out to the filthy rich monopolies who invariably buy them out as soon as they see they're taking subscribers away from them: sociopaths like Marc Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and YouTube (owned by Google/Alphabet), who lie and deceive their users, sell their data, and have no respect for their privacy.
There's no profit in that. Many of us have tried to fit your requirements, but found it's not sustainable and does not draw funders.
Oh wow! I'm a Newbie to Notes, and was just considering a first post there. Earlier this evening, I was reading a plethora of (obviously fake reports) about the incredible responses nd benefits of Notes. Thanks for the heads up.
That's the problem in a nutshell. VCs always want quick big profits, which is a horrible incentive for anything worthwhile.
Wouldn't it be possible to start small, advertise it's the only site that honors your privacy, doesn't use destructive algorithms, and charges a small monthly subscription? Instagram only had 12 employees when Fuckerberg bought it out because it was so popular he was losing subscribers and knew he couldn't make anything better. Why do all those startups sell out to a monster when they have a popular business? Greed is NOT good; it's ruining our society.
We have to get a movement going that FORCES a toggle on or off for algorithmic feeds. Or lose your Section 230 protection. The algorithm IS editorial, cannot call yourself a utility AND use algorithms to curate what users see!
It’s life or death for some. We aren’t taking care of our kids, literally destroying mental health of generations of sensitive people.
Massey? Rand Paul? Who might help?
Amen—except Section 230 should be repealed regardless; it's what allows these sicko billionaire tech bros to get away with inciting murder, hate, and persecution without ever being held responsible for the proven damages they've caused. No other industry in this country can get away with that. There is a clear distinction between a utility like a landline phone system and the internet, which is controlled by human made algorithms.
Same, knowing there's a feed as the first screen actually makes me avoid opening Substack at this point. Wish I could simply select a different homescreen at least. They need to stay on brand and return to focusing on the subscription part.
You can change the screen that opens at launch from settings. My app opens straight in my inbox. Hope that helps!
Yes, thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
Ok, so notes basically function like any other social media site ~ except here they’re in house. Got it 😝
(Heh, I’m not usually a snarky poster, but this one got me. #PostingFatigue)
posting fatigue. that's what we all have! Thanks Ariana for naming it
This honestly makes me so sad. I love that Substack wants to elevate different voices and help readers find creators they might not otherwise find, but I almost think it would be more enjoyable to just have it be totally random. I'm so tired of algorithms (and the people behind them) curating things for me. If you want me to subscribe and pay, focus on showing me things that are interesting or smart, no matter the topic. As a creator, I would love to be able to put the most energy into making my newletter the best it can be and spend less time trying to work the algorithm and the newsfeed and posting and liking and commenting and engaging so people can find me. In the end it is a 'time spent on the app' situation, and it didn't have to be this way.
I think I understand where you're coming from, but I have a different issue that I've got to conclude is just my ignorance and lack of intelligence with Social Media since I became "elderly."
I've found a few creators I absolutely adore... like Grey Galaxy and the Broom Closet. But even when I subscribed to what I thought I was subscribing to, it didn't turn out that way. Instead, it looks like there are "sub" stacks under the main that aren't delineated clearly. So, I end up a paid subscriber to the Creator (I'm assuming) -- but not to the "section" of the creator's stack I really wanted. This has been SO disillusioning. I have to straighten it out, or just clear out everything and blow it off. I don't have an unlimited amount of money for subscribing to anything... even if it's only 5 or 10 dollars a month - especially never knowing if and how much trump is going to cut from SS, and whether or not he'll allow release of Fed retirement annuities. I'm trying to get exactly what I want, while trying to support the creators of what I want, and being cast into four or five separate parts of their personality and or writing, it feels. Gods, whatever happened to have a list with boxes to check off as to which you'd like to subscribe? Am I just too old, wishing for the older, clearer, simpler way of doing things?
No, you're not too old. Totally agree with everything you say. The problem is every tech platform puts profits before people or the communities they so profoundly affect.
Cory Doctorow has written about this and offers solutions to how to fix the "enshittification" of the internet. Substack, please read it and follow his advice. If we completely lose our democracy, you can look in the mirror and blame your greedy selves.
Would you want to provide a link to Cory?
Here's a link to his book "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do about It": https://www.amazon.com/Enshittification-Everything-Suddenly-Worse-About/dp/0374619328
I buy from Thriftbooks, but gave the Amazon link because of the reviews, plus the Thriftbooks link is two paragraphs long!
And here's a link to an interview of him on Amanpour & Co: https://www.pbs.org/video/the-enshttification-of-the-internet-and-how-to-fix-it-4gli6p/
not at all sandy, we just launched a 16 module cubstack course, the result of a on year study. so think if it takes 16 modules and 128k words to understand the full ecosystem dont be hard on your self my love. we made it super cheap at $59.99 to make it as accessable to everyone. I cant gift it to you but i can gift you a life time comp subscription to WattyAlan reports.. subscribe for free and when im over there i will comp you. the course www.paidsubstack.com check it out, even if its not worth it for you as just a reader please share it as we want to help as many people understand the platform they are having problems with. have a super 2026, kindest regards adam.
Indeed, this 'working the algorithm' is one hell of a problem as there are peopöe who exploit it and those who dont THEY are left behind
ahh moebius you are everything everywhere all at once...
I think you must understand that Substack has to focus on promoting and growing the high rollers. The rest of us have to find our own audiences.
hey there, we just launched a fully up to date 16 module course that wont leave your substack side, every stumbling block hit you will find a module to reference. the result of a one year study. www.paidsubstack.com kind regards and best wishes for 2026, adam
The algorithms on every platform stand between you and your audience. It is awful. The algorithms apparently think nobody is interested in my content. But if I post on a non-algo platform like Reddit, there is plenty of engagement.
👏
hey dakara yes you feel it correct, substack provides shareable assets to platforms that will directly shadow ban you for sharing the link.. hideous situation, we had very successful platforms and then we started on substack, shared our work to our audience and the thing flatlined.. we had to bin them completely. and start over with new everything, we just released the result of a oe year study, check it out, www.paidsubstack.com please share it everywhere we want to help as many people as we can, hence silly cheap price, for everything. 16 monster modules. imagine it took 138 thousand words to explain the substack ecosystem... hilariuos. wishing you the best for 2026. adam
I came to Substack to escape algo-driven slop proliferation that sought to trap me in a platform for enshittification purposes, and now I will leave Substack to escape algo-driven slop proliferation that seeks to trap me in a platform for enshittification purposes.
"The word “algorithm” went south at some point, and I get it"
No you don't, Mike! You really, truly, 100% do not get it. If you did you wouldn't be trying to explain things that we all already understand.
Kindred, i felt the same way - like why is this guy not saying anything new and inspiring when so many of us are trapped in echo chambers together? There are many "unpopular" subjects, and i imagine should we leak hint of them we will be "jailed" with others who spoke that same truth.
The reason is that "machine learning" engineers do not want to create a sustainable ecosystem in which many niches can proliferate over the long run; they want to create dominant narratives that drive heavy "engagement" -- which means being bombarded with advertisements microtargeted through invasive surveillance -- over the short run.
They are counting on the fact that we have too much invested to leave the platform.
I suspect they are very, very wrong about that.
i so agree, REALLY! Yet i'm always reminded by kind friends that we must write for ourselves, and let the rest just be.
Amen!!!
Seeing all this talk of "but my subscriber growth slowed down" - THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. We get pulled into platforms, everything's great for a minute, and then the honeymoon ends. Never trust any single platform or company, and don't waste time trying to figure out an algorithm. Do great work, expand your creative community, and get creative in where your work appears.
As one of those who was talking about subscriber growth, I do agree with you. I was mainly reacting to the original post, which is giving "if you're not growing you just need to work harder" vibes... when in fact something is appreciably different under the hood around here lately. I wish they'd just be up front about that.
All that said, you're right. There's a bit of magical thinking among some writers who expect the platform to do all/most of the work for them. Substack has been a growth machine for many of us and no longer is. So people who want to expand their reach need to look beyond Substack and think about other means of engagement. Collaborations, podcasts, events, other products... it's going to look different for different people. It's a bummer though.
The exact same thing happened on Medium. I've been writing a mix of personal essays, humor, and professional stories about UX. I've steadily gained followers, email subscribers, publish 4 stories a month, am a writer for several high profile publications...in other words, doing the work. Yet my already small earnings have dropped off to almost nothing. The feed is full of slop, to be honest. It overwhelms quality content. And the powers that be keep trying to tell us that things are great.
Tbh, I can't remember the last time I was on Medium and just went out on the main feed looking for good stuff to read. I used to do it all the time.
hey chris we experienced this not only on substack but the moment we shared substack assets to our other platform we were shadow banned and the work we had built up was destroyed.. thats not substacks fault entirly as thats platform polotics but to note substack themselves reported on it and changed nothing with the shareable assets so everyone one is feeling crushed. we did a full year study and just released this to help. www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as we want to see people enjoy being creative not feel like they are not seen. have a great 2026 chris, adam
Oh, I saw that stuff later in that post. “Just engage more.” UGGGG. Yeah, right. That said, you’re right, time to explore the other 3847829292 ways to find and reach an audience.
I agree with their need to be up front about what has been happening with paid subscriptions staying flat for months. I didn't experience that in times past, and I feel like, rather than really educating us on how to make the feed work, they are mostly pitching the value they want us to believe it has. What I KNOW is that my paid subscriber growth was better prior to the introduction of the app and its feed than it is now. So, I feel I'm being sold a narrative about how much better it is working. It certainly is NOT working better on my end. Seems more like a sales pitch.
Great distinction, David.
I agree that this is how it works, but I think people are still entitled to their anger. That pattern shouldn't exist in the first place. I'm not going to start calmly accepting that every platform will pull the rug out from under me just because others have done so before
Oh, for sure, you can be angry about it but for me, it’s kind of like the serenity prayer… “allow me to accept the things I cannot change,” haha
hey Adrianna, awsome name. its platform polotics and they are all competing against each other, we did a full year long study and just released this to help, www.paidsubstack.com share it everywhere as we want people to enjoy what they do not struggle and feel crushed. have a super 2026, adam
I agree that you need to let your anger cause you to express the problem. In some cases, maybe the creators of the site just need to see that, but I don't see them responding to comments I leave anywhere, so maybe they just post what they have to say then pay no attention (or I just don't spend enough time reading the comments to see their response to others).
I completely agree with you: both the platform people and a lot of users are trapped in the numbers game (for various and particular reasons). Also, I too believe that only quality can elevate this place and all participants to the next levels, not quantity.
Well, we were right all along, Seth 😂 The thing is, even in our in-person writer meet-ups, we still call it Substack meetup, but we now have other amazing writers from different platforms too. Because, in the end, I always say in my intro that Substack is just another platform, and we know from experience that platforms come and go.
I often wonder if being muted which I know I definitely am affects my reach. To have 29k followers and get low traction feels frustrating. So being seen and being seen and then subscribed to would be the dream! ✨ thank you for all you do and the transparency team Substack!
How can you tell if you’re being muted? I can’t seem to figure out why my Notes fall into a void no matter what - regardless of format, topic, whatever. I keep plugging along but to read how Notes is this great growth engine & have my Notes doing nothing is so frustrating 😕
Loads of people feel like this Katie. It’s like nothing, nothing, not much x 1million then random viral note that doesn’t always connect. To reassure you I’ve never gone viral and I’ve built two bestselling publications. To answer your question - because there were huge announcements on notes about Substack educators being muted and people told me when they announcer their exit. Still waiting for my thick skin to grow! 😂
Thank you, Claire - I needed to hear that :) And also I'd just like to state how unfair I feel the muting is since people like you - and other wonderful teachers - are needed & necessary!
That’s super kind of you to say. I’d love to know if my theory is right because as you can imagine with 29k followers I’m not eager for people to follow in my footsteps - I want to help them kindle their voice and build legacy in their work. One of my colleagues here just got a book deal and one of my members too - they barely use notes but did have bigger platforms else where… ahhh the beautiful game!
hey katie, we did a year long study and just released this, check it out, www.paidsubstack.com share it every where as we want to help people understand what should be a simple platform, buts part of a huge ecosystem and its full of problems. enjoy, wishing you a super 2026, adam
Hi Claire, do you think the Substack algorithm muted you? To be honest, I agree with the most liked comment. Since May, something has happened, and nothing seems to be moving forward. None of my notes are being seen, and I've actually stopped growing. Thank goodness it's not my job, but it's still annoying to see all these Carrie Bradshaw notes still going viral instead of promoting the great work writers are doing. Also, I'm not sure what happened to recommendations, as that was a great feature, but they just removed it from our profiles, and now it's cumbersome to recommend anyone.
I have found it ok to find recomendations but yeah those numbers stalled a while ago when they changed the sign up sequencing!
No I know that individual people did and I’m worried that affects my reach to the 29k followers Substack say I have. Lol Carrie Bradshaw - we love her BUT! Yeah it’s changed and we have to just do our best work. I still get new subs every day but the churn when I email is higher and outpaces the growth so ultimately since March I’m going backwards. This is why I’m trying to understand whether I should give more energy to notes - I post on there every day multiple times a day.
Claire, are we in the same boat? 😭 Nothing has gotten me over 200 likes and mostly it is 30 or so.
And do you know how many followers? I think all my notes get a little sprinkle of something - profile visits, more followers, the odd subscribe but it’s not replacing the organic growth we all lost in Spring.
That's it right there - the odd sprinkle of every little thing. It's hard to even pick out patterns; it's very random. My most popular "thing" on Notes is not a Note I posted - it's a reply to someone else's Note. It has generated more followers and replies than anything related to my own niche and topic. I don't want that. I was just engaging with another Substack writer about THEIR thing!
I have wondered if that is the ONLY way to make notes reach a wider audience. Unless you post a note with a link to your own article on the same topic in someone else's notes, mining their audience (something I don't like to do), so far as I can see your note reaches no one but the audience that has chosen to follow your notes from your own subscriber base. I try to make sure I write original meaningful content that contributes to the conversation when I do post a link to an article of mine on the same topic; but if there is a better way to broaden one's note audience, I'd like to know what it is.
Right. Fresh notes not linked to anything internal or external do better for me.
I still don't understand how to get anyone who doesn't already subscribe to me or follow me to see my notes, unless I post on someone else's note. Is that what you are saying: it works best to write fresh notes in reply to notes from other writers of other substacks but to NOT include a link to your own articles?
Trust you to be lifting someone else up lovely - LOVE that.
I try to not look at that number, but I'm sure it's over 7000
It’s usually way higher than our subscriber number but I’m just not sure if even 1/10th of them see my stuff. As an experiment I went and liked some of your notes as I follow you but rarely see your stuff. Then I opened the app and there were three more of your notes shown to me!
Yeah I've noticed that happens the moment you like someone's posts. I don't want to engage constantly on notes though! 😭
Right! So what I teach my newbies is to like everything you like and mute everything you don’t for two weeks! That’s all it takes to have a nice feed! As for being seen I’ll wait for Substack to answer my question. 🙋🏽
So someone with a PhD and an already gigantic subscriber pool posts a NOTE that garners them thousands more subscribers PLUS 4 thousand dollars!
"To those who have, it is given..." said Jesus or maybe one of the Real Housewives of Galilee.
This feels no different in principle from the grift ads I see at the beginning of most YouTube videos:
"I dropped 45 pounds in three days using this secret technique with apple cider vinegar."
WTF is happening here?
Right? It is extremely frustrating to those of us who (naively) believed we could grow a following on here 'if only we worked hard enough and posted consistently enough.' I'm not quitting, because I genuinely love writing, but it is tough not to get bitter when a random picture of Carrie Bradshaw gets 1000s of likes while a well thought out academic essay barely gets shown to anyone.
hey ashley, we just released this, www.paidsubstack.com the result of a one year study of the platform and its ecosystem. wishing you a very super 2026, adam
hahaha we (really) dropped £42 thousand pounds investigating the substack ecosystem over a whole year, After we moved onto substack and used its assets to share back to our other platforms and then got destroyed by shadow bans for sharing the substack assets.. F bombs were dropped faster than in ww2. we just released this, www.paidsubstack.com it even suprised us at the size of it. check it out and please share it as we want to help everyone do well on substack and not feel crushed or be dragged along some silly outdated substack advice. wishing you the best for 2026 Frederick , adam
I’m considering canceling Substack. I have enough hate in my ‘feed’ on other platforms. The rage algorithms are destroying a country I deeply love. Substack was founded on 1A intellectual discourse and had less aggressive hatred. I’ve now been called worse things on Substack than X. Corporations should be responsible for being good community members inside the US. You’re social engineering adding a feed to serve me more hatred, and to do it with so much data that this is dangerous, is problematic. I’m seriously looking for businesses that actually care about humans.
Interesting how social media is always about money. Money is never social. And humanity is always loosing the game.
Im still trying to figure out substack as its approach is different. Yet the focus on money seems to be problematic.
Im not on board long enough to have a good opinion so i may change my mind.
see moebius you do need 16 modules and 138k words to trample around in. where are you at are you done for the year or still pushing on. I dont think I have a start stop in me TBH, Far to much going on with this phosphate problem.
Except that I don't want the deciding what is good for others to see. They may decide I am not good just for their own political reasons. I don't trust the guardians at the gate of any publication to allow free speech in an unbiased manner. If they just policed for obvious insults and personal hatred, that would be OK. But we've seen with many sites that the government pressed the sites to censor content it didn't agree with. Few things could be worse for a democratic republic than censorship of views that oppose what the government is doing.
One note earning $4,546 and driving 32,000 new subscribers is wild to me
Ponzi comes to mind.
But the post looks all ok.
" We want to pair you with stuff that you like"
You fail miserably at that in my "For You" feed, so now I only use the "Following" feed - which kind of defeats the purpose of a feed since I'm already following those people.
Of course, I can select from other topic areas of interest - and I do limit my choices there to what I'm interested in.
But the "For you" feed in my case is full of right-wing nutcases and Zionists excusing Israeli genocide - because I've mentioned those topics in my Notes. Maybe that's the only people on Substack with opinions on those subjects - but in any event, it renders the "For you" feed worthless.
This may be helpful to
Some but
Exhausting to
Others 🙏
👏🏻
Ok, I'm sold. Who else is interested in classic movies ???
How about you "demystify" the TOS and get rid of all the neo-nazis, abusers, misogynists and miscellaneous other trolls and then oh, I dunno, adhere to your own TOS...? ?
Why are you asking for censorship?
I reject the algo! It makes it much harder to find likeminded people who care more about their work than their number of followers. Maybe it’s just my own lack of desire to build a social media presence, but it really turns me off to see the same regurgitated articles about “growing your platform” or going viral on my homepage day after day. And the notes tab is ridiculous. There’s an app for that already… I come here to read long form content that’s written by regular people like me. Or at least I’d like to.