Exploring Substack in 2025
Finding a way to connect with extended family where it is easy to create meaningful content, not filled with advertisements, and over which I have control.
ZOOM Out!
I like ZOOM, it’s pretty useful and easy to use, but it is limited in time and space. I don’t like Facebook, but most of the human family resides there, so it is part of the equation.
1. Why this, why now
I can’t deal with the ever-changing algorithms on social media, where instead of using a service, I become the product in use by that service. The advertising is unbearable and just figuring out how to manage a community there is too much work.
2. What kind of community are you looking to build here
I would like to build a community of extended family who are interested in family history and history associated with our family. They may or may not be the same thing. I’d also like to explore the longstanding stories about our family to make sure they are not completely (or even partially) fiction.
3. Specifically
I would love to see a gathering place, where those who visit can come and go and gather information from anywhere, at any time, and learn about their family of origins. But more than that, I would like to build a community of sharing, where cousins contribute without fear of becoming the subject of a viral post due to a mistake. And a place where we can avoid becoming the objects of advertising campaigns.
4. Here is an interesting place to start
Okay, so inside 60,000 years ago is probably not a very specific place to begin, but this human family tree indicating paternal lineage from Adam is interesting.
For now, this is just for a few of us trying to figure out how to make substack work.
5. I’m open to advice
Video killed the radio star… but it has also made a major dent in the written word. Happily, we can do both, and even combine the two simultaneously