264 Comments
User's avatar
Alexandra Lais's avatar

Nice. Don't let it become a video-heavy, short-form content platform 🙏🏼 Please and thank you.

DeShawn W's avatar

Agreed. I feel like they are still deciding what kind of app they want to be.

Paul Schatzkin's avatar

Too late. They just did that. Now have to spend a non-zero amount of time on the platform blacking the vertical video narcissists.

Kristy Jacobs's avatar

I agree! I feel short form video and the noise and distraction it creates (and tendency to encourage content which dumbs down complexity) is exactly what we don't want and is missing the reason why we would choose Substack over other platforms.

MsAlgodon's avatar

I believe this is a fantastic feature for video publications. However, as a reader on Substack, it has become overwhelming for my notifications— online and in the app! I've had to unfollow and unsubscribe from several writers I support today because there’s no way to turn off these notifications.

Michelle Francois-Walsh's avatar

Many of us have left/are contemplating leaving other social media platforms because we want more peace and less noise.

Whereas I appreciate this form of posting, it reminds me of places I like FB and IG. I came to Substack specifically because I want to cultivate my own creative work, while supporting other creatives. NO ads and less noise. Please keep this in mind as you "innovate". Thank you!

Paul Schatzkin's avatar

Yup. My whole premise is “more signal / less noise.” 99% of the vertical selfie videos are noise. Now I have to crank up my filters. 😡

MsAlgodon's avatar

I believe this is a fantastic feature for video publications. However, as a reader on Substack, it has become overwhelming for my notifications— online and in the app! I've had to unfollow and unsubscribe from several writers I support today because there’s no way to turn off these notifications.

Samu Setényi's avatar

I appreciate your perspective, but given the distinct culture of readership and authors on Substack (compared to FB or IG), I think the video format will be used for creative, thoughtful output. It is certainly why I was able to start my blog here as opposed to YT or IG, because of the ability to post videos. I do hope this change doesn't shape the platform towards less attention span and more spam, though.

William Knight-Hughes's avatar

I understand your point of view, but this new capacity to show Sound & Vision allows me to have poetry spoken out loud, which I think it should be, and in a visual context.

He’s Thinking Again's avatar

Another perk thought up by a non-fly ing bureaucrat.

Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Fab. Please don't put popular videos in my Notes feed if I haven't followed. This is what Tiktok does. Thx!

Paul Schatzkin's avatar

Hi CK… I think we’re of like minds on this subject. Good luck with that!

recessed.space's avatar

No. Why are all social media platforms trying to become the same thing instead of fundamentally value their unique selling point and reason why people use it and come to it?

My publication will not be posting videos, instead I will continue to do contemplated, considered writing.

Gabriel O's avatar

Maybe because you save your opinion for the comment section. Tell the creators of the platform, you are the consumer they want to hear your voice.

Jocelyn Simpson's avatar

Why does everything always have to be monetized? Part of the draw of Substack is that it isn't like every other SM outlet. Wish this platform would stay distinct from everything else. Might as well start the countdown to it being sold to Meta, I guess.

recessed.space's avatar

Because they have only a few years to pay back profits on huge venture capital investment.

Alicia Grace Turrell's avatar

Excited to see this feature. I really appreciate the option of mixing and matching different content to suit the intended audience. I use TikTok a lot and have only just moved over here so hopefully I can bring over some readers to join me on here too :)

Alicia Grace Turrell's avatar

Do you mean the link in bio with a CTA in the video? TikTok doesn’t like Substack links unless they are in a linktree or similar (which is a pain). I wish they did clickable links in the actual video but it’s limited to only certain sites (or TikTok subscription)

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Feb 20, 2025
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Renee (@msha.ke/truediva)'s avatar

Can the substack platform team/ or the dev op fix several tweaks? First & foremost, Why am I unable to view and distinguish the free vs. paid subscribers ? Also , Why am I unable to edit my newsletters or post after it's finished? Thank you in advance gracefully for updating these acute bugs on the app & website!

Brandon Xopher's avatar

Substack isn't turning into Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter!

You're turning it into those things with your mindset which fuels your approach!

Stop caring about likes, subscribes or restacks. Stop caring about monthly subscriptions and profits. Just post content, and don't stop. Your reason for doing it is whats wrong, not the apparatus.

We need to learn to stop blaming the tool and start taking responsibility for how the tool is being utilized! What did you start your substack for? To share your creative content or for likes, subscriptions and money? Have confidence and the right frequency of energy in what you create and the right people magnetize to it!

You don't like a feature? Don't use it on your substack platform. Its your space for a reason and how YOU utilize YOUR SPACE determines what it becomes!!

Some of you have a really bad case of Social Media PTSD and keep spreading that low vibrational energy to everyone else!!!

Let Substack be what ever it wants to be, and you do the same.

Lets stop trying to box substack in because of our own social media issues!!!

GET FREEDOM IN THINKING [CHANGING YOUR MINDSET]

Renee (@msha.ke/truediva)'s avatar

Hallelujah 🙏🙏🙏#OML & well said bruh .. FRFR Yup 💯💯💯 (HEARD THAT)

Nancy Myrland's avatar

Done! Just published my first video!

MsAlgodon's avatar

I believe this is a fantastic feature for video publications. However, as a reader on Substack, it has become overwhelming for my notifications— online and in the app! I've had to unfollow and unsubscribe from several writers I support today because there’s no way to turn off these notifications.

Clay Morgan's avatar

Looks good Nancy. Did you add the text from your phone too?

Nancy Myrland's avatar

No, I use HappyScribe, which is easiest on desktop.

Liz's avatar

Re: the app, some people don't want to load apps on their device, yet you make it mandatory when people want to view a "free" post from a creator. I am considering monetizing my Substack and posting more content but don't like this insistence of downloading the app in order to see a "free" post.

Also Substack has been unresponsive when I send them a question...how do we reach someone there?

And I have to mention I've been told some creators content are being censored, but it is done by a government actor or CIA breaking in and changing email addresses of subscribers, but I think it is just being done the old fashioned way - of not showing anyone what you are posting. How can I post content like this and have only 15 subscribers and less than 100 views?

https://secretprogrambehindcbdc.com/intel-drops-1-10/

If my content weren't so TRUE they wouldn't be being censored.

I was hopeful about Substack but it's really feeling like all the other censored platforms. I wish that were not the case.

Madelyne's avatar

I'm sad that Substack is leaving me behind. I don't have a cell phone nor an ipad, etc., so these app features are a loss for me :)

Carol Hutchins's avatar

Unfortunate divide between the app features and non-app. Substack is not alone with this dichotomy.

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

Me too...no satanic apps for me, and no cell phone or ipad. They are finding new ways of crowding out truth tellers. And ESPECIALLY those who share the Lord. Don't you dare share any truth, to expose our lies. I just hope they know that all liars will find themselves in the lake of fire...FOREVER. They'd better quit lying, and forbidding the truth from being told...that is another form of lying, isn't it?

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Feb 20, 2025
Comment deleted
Jesus Is Lord's avatar

Thank you, David...good point. You're right. They ARE being used for good. I guess I'm just being overcautious, but that also takes away being able to post the truth in more places. Appreciate your reply.

Liz's avatar

https://secretprogrambehindcbdc.com/intel-drops-1-10/ is the program about the real purpose of digital IDs which we must REFUSE.

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

Thank you Liz. Very important. I will go see it now. Bless you!

Liz's avatar

Thank you Crystal, Please pass the links on if you believe what they are saying. There are a few very important ones, 1-4 to get an idea fo things and then 14 and 20. Blessings.

Jesus Is Lord's avatar

Just to share, I got 3 of them and computer froze up. Wouldn't let me get any more. That's happening a lot lately. I'll go back from re-start now and get them, before they're gone. thanks!

Jeff's avatar

I feel like most people came to Substack to read. To read genuine, conscious, and heartfelt long-form writing. Videos are great, but that's what IG and the rest are for. Even Notes- half of them are about growing on substack or over-recycled self help quotes. Yes, I like those too. But it's just not what I need from substack. I need genuine, conscious, and heartfelt long-form content. I really don't want to have to look for that someplace else.

RO's avatar

It is necessary to improve the insights from the app. The ones that can be seen are almost non-existent.

Željko St.'s avatar

We can't publish a note from the app and you talk about publishing videos. 🤔

Lee's avatar

A dissenting opinion from me - this is a terrible idea. Big step toward enshittification.

It should be hard work, greasy forehead sweating hard work to commit a cogent stream of thought into words for an audience

But, now, start talking and nail it up on Substack. I'll grant there are those who will take the effort to create meaningful video content - full props. But the vast majority of video postings will be the usual run of the mill humble brags, branding puffery or just topical snark - just like the other platforms like tiktok or Xitter.

*shudder*

Paul Schatzkin's avatar

I am in complete agreement here (and could not disagree more with the guy below who thinks the users are the problem). This is going to be a bright light for the narcissistic vertical video moths, most of whom don’t have the presence of mind to realize they have nothing original to say but never these are compelled to use the platform. I have already made it a personal policy to block any user who posts these videos. Now I will have to be all the more diligent because Substack doesn’t have an “enshittification” filter.

Gabriel O's avatar

You want to explain what that means? Or don't

Daniel Benneworth-Gray's avatar

It’s very nice, but please remember that the mobile text publishing is still missing some pretty major features – like the ability to add subtitles to posts! Without this one pretty basic functionality, posting from the app is pretty rubbish.

Peter Moore's avatar

How convenient! I recently launched a project to convert my illustrated memoir A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG NINCOMPOOP, excerpted at petermoore.substack.com, into a series of short videos. As my video for excerpt #1 nears completion, I'lll be so excited to share it with my subscribers, and Substack at large. Thank you for continuing to provide alternatives for all the places I don't want to be right now: Facebook, X, Tiktok....