142 Comments
User's avatar
Pablo Andreu's avatar

I kind of wish video had its own section on Substack. I get that some Substackers enjoy the video features (and some are really good at it), but I worry that those of us who focus exclusively on the written word will get drowned out. Some of us came here to get away from video.

Expand full comment
Roman S Shapoval's avatar

Exactly. In the short attention span economy, Substack reigns supreme, and also why I joined here. We can't be all things to all people, otherwise no one is happy.

Expand full comment
JennyStokes's avatar

100% agree.

Expand full comment
Paula's avatar

I agree with this as someone who isn’t big on livestreams and videos on this app. I love that this is a place to escape and dive into my own articles and other peoples writings! Feels like a home just without the house 🤍

Expand full comment
Alea Quiles's avatar

Completely agree.

Expand full comment
Psychiclexi's avatar

This is also why I have my own website for writing as well. Leaderboards sound ridiculous. That sounds like a popularity contest I don't know if I want to be apart of

Expand full comment
Pablo Andreu's avatar

I have my own website too, but the Substack functionality for publishing is so much smoother than my Wordpress.

Expand full comment
Paula's avatar

What website builder do you use that is free? I used wix and it was a huge scam of a website so I went to Substack

Expand full comment
Psychiclexi's avatar

I totally understand that because my website is a word press one as well. However, I believe in writing on both and adding my substack subscribers there as well. Just like Tic Tok and others Substack could eventually go away. I’d rather always keep my own space.

Expand full comment
Tanya Smith's avatar

I do video and I agree. Everything isn’t for everyone

Expand full comment
Coffee, Other News and More's avatar

Have found that the best response to my posts is a dual approach of written for some and others do not read a post and require a video or audio podcast . Depending on my mood of the moment will do both to reach the broadest audience.

As much as I lament the short attention span of many both seem to be needed,. Latest information I have is as people our attention span has dropped from 20 seconds to that of equivalent to a gold fish of about 6 seconds in recent years. Does not say much for humanity when one needs flashing lights and noise to keep many engaged.

Expand full comment
Pablo Andreu's avatar

I'll never begrudge anyone a method that works for them, so if the video features work for you, have at it. I will, however, push back on the notion that "both seem to be needed" due to shortening attention spans. In the last 10-15 years, two long-form movements emerged as a response to the micro media landscape: podcasts and newsletters. The popularity of podcasts exploded in the mid 2010s, just as micro media platforms, like Vine and Snapchat, were peaking. A few years after that, Substack launched. A cluttered, frantic landscape created demand for focused, longer-form media. I sometimes worry Substack is sacrificing its focus, and potentially its appeal, in favor of short-term gains.

Expand full comment
Venus's avatar

right on! Adding the video feature would make it another Instagram. I remember when IG used to be photos only, but once they integrated the video feature everything turned not so attractive to me. I hope it is not the case with substack.

Expand full comment
Lori Corbet Mann's avatar

I wholly agree with your comments here Pablo.

Expand full comment
Paula's avatar

100% agre

Expand full comment
BRITTANY J PARKS's avatar

amen to that.

Expand full comment
Miguel García Álvarez's avatar

I know English is still the main language in Substack (and it probably will always be), but it would be great if you could also filter on the different leaderboards by language. This would allow people to find voices in other languages.

Expand full comment
Lorris Andre Blazejewski's avatar

This would be great! There are a lot of German speaking authors who would rush (even faster) into Substack when this is going to happen. Good idea!

Expand full comment
Raquel Dias da Silva's avatar

Love this idea!

Expand full comment
Saint Virgil's avatar

While I appreciate the innovation, as someone who values Substack primarily for thoughtful written content, I'm concerned about feature creep. The new video and live options triggered the same visceral reaction I have when opening Instagram or TikTok; an immediate sense of overwhelm and noise rather than substance.

The platform's strength has always been in creating space for nuanced writing, curated notes, and meaningful visual accompaniments. Perhaps these multimedia features would better serve the community as opt-in extensions rather than integrated elements that risk diluting the focused, contemplative experience that attracted many of us in the first place.

Expand full comment
Cali Bird's avatar

Is there any chance of a memoir category or creativity please. I've always found it hard to pick a suitable category for my substack. It's weird that you have Literature and Fiction

Expand full comment
Ali Isaac's avatar

I write memoir too. I think your suggestion is a great idea!

Expand full comment
Debra Groves Harman's avatar

Absolutely yes to memoir.

Expand full comment
Jewel Barlow's avatar

I am attracted to Substack by its being focused on written pieces which are fundamentally more carefully vetted by their creators than video interactions.

Expand full comment
BRITTANY J PARKS's avatar

same. hopefully there will not be any sort of “feature creep” from the video portion of the app. The algorithm is great now. Don’t tweak it til you make it freak out and hate us all 🤣

Expand full comment
Kenny Farquharson's avatar

Thanks for the mention, Substack!

I think the nomination of my newsletter in national press awards is proof Substack is crossing over into territory usually reserved for legacy newspaper groups.

Expand full comment
Tawanda Moore's avatar

Thanks for sharing the nomination; I’m new to Substack.

Expand full comment
Faith Current's avatar

I am begging... pleading.... For you to please allow an option to disable the welcome page. I have had so many people either not know how to get past it or complain that I was asking them to subscribe before they'd even read the thing. It's a really big problem.

Also, could you please allow the option to disable the voice over function entirely. I don't want somebody else's voice reading my work. I have my own audio for that.

Show quoted text

Expand full comment
BRITTANY J PARKS's avatar

seconding this! welcome page can for sure be a pitfall in the reader’s journey. any extra steps and they’re outta there and leaving your publication for “later” aka never again.

Expand full comment
Nay Paing's avatar

Substack on 🔥 -- keep up the fantastic work, Substack Team💥⚡🙏🏻🙏🏻

Expand full comment
Michela Griffith's avatar

Good to see additional subcategories but please can we have Nature. It’s been repeatedly requested by many nature writers and while it’s good to see, Wildlife is a sub-category of Nature.

And to echo an earlier comment, the new subcategories available for writers not just reading interests.

For discovery, it’s easy to get the impression that leaderboards and rising are just for those with lots of paid subscribers. For Substack to really rocket, discovery (leaderboards and rising) needs to include top and rising writers and publications irrespective of whether subs are free and paid taking into account subscriber growth and engagement—this surely drives Substack’s overall growth and monetisation more effectively over time.

Expand full comment
The Humane Sapiens's avatar

This is amazing. Thank you, Substack Team! I wish there were more subcategories, but I'm sure that's already in the works. You are amazing! Keep rocking, and have a beautiful week!

Expand full comment
Sophie's avatar

Movies & TV 🥹🥹🥹 Ily Substack!!!

Expand full comment
Sophie's avatar

One suggestion: If new categories are now available on a consumer level (as an interest), we'd love to be able to select them as a proper category for our publications. Right now, "Culture" is still the only relevant category I can select for my film/tv publication. This way, new categories movies & TV can also have their own leaderboards etc.

Expand full comment
Matt Klein's avatar

Thanks for sharing Sophie! I'll pass this along to the product team.

Expand full comment
Sophie's avatar

Appreciate you.

Expand full comment
Adam Kritzer's avatar

lol was just coming here to say THIS EXACT THING. You're on it, Sophie!

Expand full comment
Sophie's avatar

Film minds think alike 😅

Expand full comment
Parisse Deza's avatar

Greetings,

You must create 'Psychology' and 'Metaphysics' categories. They are essential.

Metaphysics is the overarching category for philosophy, spirituality, religion, and others.

Psychology speaks for itself.

Also, "Faith and Spirituality" are two separate categories and should not be put together, the way "Arts and Entertainment" never should have been.

Thank you for making these changes. They will improve the vibe and function here a lot.

Expand full comment
Scapegoat Healing Rebecca LMFT's avatar

Many of us clinicians have been literally baking for a Mental Health category. You can see that category as a reader but you can't put yourself into it through your settings as a publisher.

Expand full comment
M. M. D.'s avatar

Please: everyone sign into YouTube and watch even a bit of Cory Booker’s speaking! Get the numbers up!!!

https://www.booker.senate.gov/live

Expand full comment
Jackie Taylor Miller's avatar

Thank you for sharing the link!

Expand full comment
Paola Bassanese's avatar

I'm.an Android user, when is Live scheduling going to be available for this system? Thanks.

Expand full comment
ellie Johnson's avatar

Hey where is coffee w the contrarians ? cant find it anywhere. I love listening toJen and Norm while I'm getting ready for my day in the early hours

Expand full comment
Raquel’s World's avatar

I’m so excited about this 🥹

Expand full comment