Et tu, Substack?

Jan 02, 2024

You may have heard that Substack has a Nazi problem. That was the headline of a story in the Atlantic (paywalled, but there are ways around that) detailing the manner in which self-avowed fascists and white supremacists are making use of Substack – which means Substack is making use of them.

Substack is not unique in this regard. All open platforms struggle with “content moderation,” and generally fail. But some fail worse than others. It would be miserable for me and many writers if Substack turns out to be one of those – but they might. In the wake of the Atlantic story, Substack’s Hamish McKenzie issued a statement that disappointed a lot of us on the platform:

“I just want to make it clear that we don’t like Nazis either - we wish no-one held those views. But some people do hold those and other extreme views. Given that, we don't think that censorship (including through demonetizing publications) makes the problem go away - in fact, it makes it worse.”

How de-platforming and de-monetizing publications by white supremacists could make things worse is beyond me. Writers with large audiences and clout with Substack are saying the same, including Margaret Atwood, one of their most prized users, and over two hundred others. For what it’s worth, I am adding my voice to that chorus. Below you will find an open letter that all these writers have also shared in their newsletters.

As a musician, this is not the only platform I rely on at present that is simultaneously disappointing me – indeed, the list is long and unfortunately now also includes what I think is the best of the bunch, Bandcamp. Possibly, all platforms are doomed to disappoint in some manner because they are all constructed on the same inhumane logic of maximizing scale. And yet Bandcamp, which I continue to use for my music, and Substack, which I will continue to use for my writing even as I join this lobby urging them to change course, are important to me precisely because they allow for the nurturing of smaller scale communities. Here that community is based on you as an interested reader of Dada Drummer Almanach – and it’s your participation as a subscriber that determines whether or not this community exists.

Substack itself might eventually fold, or be sold to a bigger corporation like Bandcamp was, or make itself irrelevant like Twitter by following a sophomoric idea of “free speech” into troll oblivion. But our micro-community will continue if you want it to. I may eventually have to move Dada Drummer Almanach elsewhere online; but it’s only if you subscribe that I would be able to contact you about that move, or include you in a mailing from a different platform. Because unlike nearly all the other sites I have to use for my work (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon…), Substack – like Bandcamp – allows me access to my own list of subscribers.

Which means this low point of faith in Substack is also a moment to emphasize how important it is to me that you subscribe to this newsletter on Substack. I know that sounds counterintuitive, especially if you are critical as I am of Substack’s current policy regarding content moderation. But if you are a subscriber we are in direct communication, and will continue to be.

Thank you for your participation in Dada Drummer Almanach. And for those of you who elect to pay for your subscription, thank you for your financial support - it is very meaningful to me.

A collective letter to Substack leadership
Dear Chris, Hamish & Jairaj:
We’re asking a very simple question that has somehow been made complicated: Why are you platforming and monetizing Nazis?
According to a piece written by Substack publisher Jonathan M. Katz and published by The Atlantic on November 28, this platform has a Nazi problem:
“Some Substack newsletters by Nazis and white nationalists have thousands or tens of thousands of subscribers, making the platform a new and valuable tool for creating mailing lists for the far right. And many accept paid subscriptions through Substack, seemingly flouting terms of service that ban attempts to ‘publish content or fund initiatives that incite violence based on protected classes’...Substack, which takes a 10 percent cut of subscription revenue, makes money when readers pay for Nazi newsletters.”
As Patrick Casey, a leader of a now-defunct neo-Nazi group who is banned on nearly every other social platform except Substack, wrote on here in 2021: “I’m able to live comfortably doing something I find enjoyable and fulfilling. The cause isn’t going anywhere.” Several Nazis and white supremacists including Richard Spencer not only have paid subscriptions turned on but have received Substack “Bestseller” badges, indicating that they are making at a minimum thousands of dollars a year.
From our perspective as Substack publishers, it is unfathomable that someone with a swastika avatar, who writes about “The Jewish question,” or who promotes Great Replacement Theory, could be given the tools to succeed on your platform. And yet you’ve been unable to adequately explain your position.
In the past you have defended your decision to platform bigotry by saying you “make decisions based on principles not PR” and “will stick to our hands-off approach to content moderation.” But there’s a difference between a hands-off approach and putting your thumb on the scale. We know you moderate some content, including spam sites and newsletters written by sex workers. Why do you choose to promote and allow the monetization of sites that traffic in white nationalism?
Your unwillingness to play by your own rules on this issue has already led to the announced departures of several prominent Substackers, including Rusty Foster and Helena Fitzgerald. They follow previous exoduses of writers, including Substack Pro recipient Grace Lavery and Jude Ellison S. Doyle, who left with similar concerns.
As journalist Casey Newton told his more than 166,000 Substack subscribers after Katz’s piece came out: “The correct number of newsletters using Nazi symbols that you host and profit from on your platform is zero.”
We, your publishers, want to hear from you on the official Substack newsletter. Is platforming Nazis part of your vision of success? Let us know—from there we can each decide if this is still where we want to be.
- list of signatories