Indeed. You might be interested in reading my comments here as well and, possibly, include some of them in your future articles, whenever they apply...
I moved off SM and onto here because of the short attention span but no one can argue that live video is super powerful for building a connection with your audience and it's one feature I love on IG. So maybe it will all work out for the best, after all you still need to read quite a bit... :)
ok I see how this could be useful for podcasters and such but please don't try to be like all the social media apps already out there!!!! I'm here because I want something that is NOT like all the other apps out there!!!!
I haven’t used the feature and have no plans to in the short to medium term. I came to Substack to write articles but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future.
It’s a basic mistake and oversight by Substack way back at the planning phase. This could have been picked up in the testing phase but doesn’t seem to have been - no clue why.
This is without a doubt one of Substack’s top innovations. Love it. So easy to use and builds the sense of community. Also, I greatly appreciate how easy it is to publish after the fact.
Exactly. I have a 34" monitor and they expect me to change that? My eyes are too old and this is too restrictive. They better catch a clue right now. COME ON, SUBSTACK! Get with the program and stop ramming 'dumb'phones down people's throats.
Well, at least I can view them with my computer now. Thanks. I'm not sure I want to use Substack's version. Seems complicated, but I'll check into it. I make YouTube videos and put them on my stack.
It's been interesting the last few years to watch Substack's mission evolve, from being "The place for great writing" and later "The place for great culture" and now per your website, "The app for independent voices."
That said, Any plans to make this feature available beyond smartphones, that is, via desktop/laptop?
I know you're trying to drive people to the app and to the Notes social media experience. But. Almost none of my readers are on the app, and those that do read their Substacks via the app, currently don't engage in any way on Notes, which seems to be mostly a community of writers/podcasters, etc. with their own Substacks (fantastic for us to connect, but so far not for engaging reader involvement across so many areas of interests). My readers mostly want less social media, not another place to zap their time, and especially, their attention (which, now that I think about it, is consistent with what I write about ;-). I'm actually not thrilled about essentially being asked to help drive users to your app.
Plus, trying to do a video event of more than a couple of people on a smartphone is a terrible user experience. It might as well just be audio, as I know I wouldn't sit staring at a little screen with a couple of tiny talking heads. Maybe that's a stage of life thing, and you're just aiming for a younger demographic . . . just remember, the 50+ population is exploding.
Dear Fellow Explodee~ Yes, we are. It took me a foot of scrolling down here to realize Substack is offering us a teeny weeny squint-eyed video experience when all involved have a nice 13"+ screen sitting idle right next to the phone. Huh? and also Why? All of us who matured in not just the pre-internet but pre-personal computer Before Times are still the pig in the python, the biggest generation of readers ever. We, and I use the royal We here, are relieved to have found a place to read and write with others who can spell and use grammar correctly. Most of us will never aspire to be video celebrities nor can we be arsed to prep our faces to appear on someone else's screen. Covid taught me to hate Zoom, all those nostrils and tops of balding heads, frequently disappearing entirely to let the dog out because it was barking out the audio for everybody. I'll never go back. Thank you for foregrounding our over-50 concerns. Video killed the radio star and it will put the old Substack into a coma. But keep reading, I'm told the comatose can still hear you.
Zack@Substack: I'm a 12-year podcaster on Spirituality & Metaphysics and I'm in the process of transitioning to Substack now. I'm so looking forward to publishing articles and posting my favorite episodes with knowledgeable guests and the announcement of this live feature just made my day! Thank you to the Substack Team!
Hahaha, I'm glad you thought it was funny and I don't feel insane anymore - cognitive dissonance fixed. And wow, I gotta commend you on the commitment. 12 years? That's an establishment by this point! And thank you for the kind words about my profile. Yes NLP coach and a productivity nerd, that's me :) I just followed you. Looking forward to seeing you in the feed.
Oh, yes. It's been quite a ride. I'm happy to be on Substack so I have everything all in one place. I'm an organization and efficiency gal. Thank you for following me and I'll follow you back. ~Char.
I'm concerned about lack of captions/subtitles and how A.I. will be using/learning from the content. Also, I come to Substack for reading, not video - which all the other social media platforms have pushed so hard.
I would love to use live, but it is limited to only the app. I need to screen share so I can share pictures and video. Once this is something that you can do, I would use your love over YouTube. Can you say when that will be available?
Excited to see how everyone uses the feature! We recommend going live with a fellow publisher on Substack as we've seen the most success with collaborative live videos.
Zach, can I use this app via desktop? I would like to start private one-on-one chats with subscribers and was planning on using zoom. Could I use this feature instead?
You can already do chat messages on Substack. I think you can only do this on the Substack app or website. I don't think you can have a Desktop icon on your desktop if that's what you mean.
What brings Substack value is the fact that we have people that have enough brain power to sit and read meaningful articles.
Won't this "kill the golden goose" and feed the instant-attention economy?
Indeed. You might be interested in reading my comments here as well and, possibly, include some of them in your future articles, whenever they apply...
I moved off SM and onto here because of the short attention span but no one can argue that live video is super powerful for building a connection with your audience and it's one feature I love on IG. So maybe it will all work out for the best, after all you still need to read quite a bit... :)
Thanks for the insights. Speaking of dopamine, are you aware of the impacts of artificial blue light on dopamine?
Indeed, good topic. How did you get into digging around that topic?
And you just gave me an idea to write about that in my newsletter. Btw do people on here call their substack a newsletter or is it always a 'blog'?
This is a great feature 👌🏼
Is it? Just read my comments...
Where is your critique? I can't find your comments
Cannot help you, unless you use the CTRL+f function in your browser in the comment section. :)
I'm aware of this function and still cannot find it.
I just read them. Seems a bit dramatic.
As a cognitive scientist, I can assure you they are for real…
ok I see how this could be useful for podcasters and such but please don't try to be like all the social media apps already out there!!!! I'm here because I want something that is NOT like all the other apps out there!!!!
Substack’s TikTokification continues along unabated :/
Maybe we will be calling it the "new TikTok"?
I am totally fed up with these live videos..............where are subtiles for the deaf. There are millions of us.
I keep writing about deaf people but substack seems to totally ignore subtitles!
Why don’t they have this feature? Captions should be mandatory.
Thank you Kate. You are the on;y person who has commented in a favorable way.
The minute I see these videos without subtitles I don't join.
Every person on substack is missing thousands of viewers!
Greed is the 'American way' so I suggest you do not forget deaf people!
I agree with Kate. They should be mandatory as that allows a vast number of people to not only digest but also engage.
A very silly oversight by Substack.
Thank you Aiden. Lack of foresight by substack again and again. I have been here for a long time/they keep doing changes BUT nothing for the deaf.
Any help you can give would be helpful.
Jenny
I haven’t used the feature and have no plans to in the short to medium term. I came to Substack to write articles but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future.
It’s a basic mistake and oversight by Substack way back at the planning phase. This could have been picked up in the testing phase but doesn’t seem to have been - no clue why.
This is without a doubt one of Substack’s top innovations. Love it. So easy to use and builds the sense of community. Also, I greatly appreciate how easy it is to publish after the fact.
👏
Thanks for the kind words Tyler. I really enjoy tuning into your live videos! Keep it up :)
If this isn't available for computer users as well, no thanks. Tired of being forced to use phones when I pay far more for my computers. :(
Also, I don't want to watch a video on a fricking tiny screen.
Exactly. I have a 34" monitor and they expect me to change that? My eyes are too old and this is too restrictive. They better catch a clue right now. COME ON, SUBSTACK! Get with the program and stop ramming 'dumb'phones down people's throats.
Just found out they have SMTP access in beta: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/32070353475860-Live-video-on-Substack-via-RTMP
Well, at least I can view them with my computer now. Thanks. I'm not sure I want to use Substack's version. Seems complicated, but I'll check into it. I make YouTube videos and put them on my stack.
It's been interesting the last few years to watch Substack's mission evolve, from being "The place for great writing" and later "The place for great culture" and now per your website, "The app for independent voices."
That said, Any plans to make this feature available beyond smartphones, that is, via desktop/laptop?
I know you're trying to drive people to the app and to the Notes social media experience. But. Almost none of my readers are on the app, and those that do read their Substacks via the app, currently don't engage in any way on Notes, which seems to be mostly a community of writers/podcasters, etc. with their own Substacks (fantastic for us to connect, but so far not for engaging reader involvement across so many areas of interests). My readers mostly want less social media, not another place to zap their time, and especially, their attention (which, now that I think about it, is consistent with what I write about ;-). I'm actually not thrilled about essentially being asked to help drive users to your app.
Plus, trying to do a video event of more than a couple of people on a smartphone is a terrible user experience. It might as well just be audio, as I know I wouldn't sit staring at a little screen with a couple of tiny talking heads. Maybe that's a stage of life thing, and you're just aiming for a younger demographic . . . just remember, the 50+ population is exploding.
Thanks, though, for evolving features.
Dear Fellow Explodee~ Yes, we are. It took me a foot of scrolling down here to realize Substack is offering us a teeny weeny squint-eyed video experience when all involved have a nice 13"+ screen sitting idle right next to the phone. Huh? and also Why? All of us who matured in not just the pre-internet but pre-personal computer Before Times are still the pig in the python, the biggest generation of readers ever. We, and I use the royal We here, are relieved to have found a place to read and write with others who can spell and use grammar correctly. Most of us will never aspire to be video celebrities nor can we be arsed to prep our faces to appear on someone else's screen. Covid taught me to hate Zoom, all those nostrils and tops of balding heads, frequently disappearing entirely to let the dog out because it was barking out the audio for everybody. I'll never go back. Thank you for foregrounding our over-50 concerns. Video killed the radio star and it will put the old Substack into a coma. But keep reading, I'm told the comatose can still hear you.
Zack@Substack: I'm a 12-year podcaster on Spirituality & Metaphysics and I'm in the process of transitioning to Substack now. I'm so looking forward to publishing articles and posting my favorite episodes with knowledgeable guests and the announcement of this live feature just made my day! Thank you to the Substack Team!
Your welcome! We're excited to have you on Substack :)
You're = You are.
haha, didn't know you still existed 😅
Are you sure you're 12? Your profile picture looks at least 30, haha.
Cute joke. Ha ha. The podcast is 12 years old, not me. I was in my early 40s in that photo.
So you do NLP? I like your profile.
Hahaha, I'm glad you thought it was funny and I don't feel insane anymore - cognitive dissonance fixed. And wow, I gotta commend you on the commitment. 12 years? That's an establishment by this point! And thank you for the kind words about my profile. Yes NLP coach and a productivity nerd, that's me :) I just followed you. Looking forward to seeing you in the feed.
Oh, yes. It's been quite a ride. I'm happy to be on Substack so I have everything all in one place. I'm an organization and efficiency gal. Thank you for following me and I'll follow you back. ~Char.
I'm concerned about lack of captions/subtitles and how A.I. will be using/learning from the content. Also, I come to Substack for reading, not video - which all the other social media platforms have pushed so hard.
We will certainly be trying it out!! 🔥💪🏼
I recommend you do your first live video with a fellow Substacker. We've seen the most success with collaborative live videos.
This is helpful to know… I’m helping my podcast cohost get set up on here this week 🔥
Before that, you might want to consider the contents in my comments here...
Time for some Kiss Me, Son of Blog Live Listening parties 🎉 🪗🎸🎸
Hey Zach - all your examples show white creators. Would love to see some diversity and spotlighting of those who don't get as many eyeballs. Thanks!
I would love to use live, but it is limited to only the app. I need to screen share so I can share pictures and video. Once this is something that you can do, I would use your love over YouTube. Can you say when that will be available?
They want app and app only, indeed they seem positively desperate to force us onto the appy app app appy thing
Although I’m on the appy app appy thing now, I much prefer using my laptop and browser
Finally us baby stackers get access lol
Excited to see how everyone uses the feature! We recommend going live with a fellow publisher on Substack as we've seen the most success with collaborative live videos.
Where can we read the terms & conditions for how AI uses the video? Can we opt out of AI accessing the feed?
Good question. Is this governor by the same pre-existing AI opt out option?
Zach, can I use this app via desktop? I would like to start private one-on-one chats with subscribers and was planning on using zoom. Could I use this feature instead?
You can already do chat messages on Substack. I think you can only do this on the Substack app or website. I don't think you can have a Desktop icon on your desktop if that's what you mean.
No, they're desperately determined to shove us onto the app, and the harder they shove the more I resist.
I am interested in this response as I was planning a weekly Q&A about book publishing for my Author Adventure substack.