gm, Early Morning Crew!
Another week, another wild ride into the future of decentralized tech! This week’s podcast episode dove deep into Farcaster's evolving channel ecosystem—and let’s just say, there’s a lot to unpack.
AutoMod is Out, Manual Mod is In (for now)
Big news! With the sunsetting of AutoMod, many channel hosts are bracing for what could be a spam tsunami. AutoMod allowed hosts to gate conversations with NFTs, fan tokens, and even FarScores, making moderation a breeze. But now, channel hosts are left wondering: How do we keep conversations meaningful without drowning in spam?
The consensus? Many are considering invite-only channels to maintain quality discussions. But as Pichi pointed out, this could gatekeep new users, making it harder for fresh faces to break into established communities. “Some channels will thrive under that model,” Pichi noted, “but it’s going to be a lot harder on new people trying to find their way in.”
One thing’s for sure—channel moderation is about to get a lot more personal. You’ll either be handpicking who’s in your digital living room or using creative workarounds to filter out the noise. The future of Farcaster’s channels? It’s looking more exclusive than ever.
Farcaster Channels: Open, Cozy, or Both?
The conversation around channels doesn’t stop at moderation—it’s also about how Farcaster users interact with them. One of the biggest debates this week was how channels should evolve: Should they stay open for broader participation or shift toward cozier, more curated spaces? Some hosts love the idea of fostering tight-knit, invite-only groups that focus on specific topics or interests. This model helps build trust and prevent spam, but it could come at the cost of accessibility and discovery.
At the same time, there's concern about keeping things open and discoverable. Pichi explained that open channels can quickly turn into spam fests, where meaningful conversations get lost under a flood of irrelevant content. "If you invite everyone," Pichi explained, "the spammers are just going to attack. It's already happening in places like the Purple DAO channel."
But is total exclusivity the answer? For many in the Farcaster community, the platform's charm lies in its engagement and inclusiveness. Channels that are too closed off might lose out on the serendipity of discovering new people and ideas. The solution might lie somewhere in between, with options for token-gated access, fan tokens, or even hybrid models that let people observe but limit participation to those who align with the channel’s values.
Discovery vs. Cozy Communities: Can We Have Both?
The group also debated one of the biggest dilemmas facing Farcaster: discovery versus intimacy. Telegram, Discord, and now Farcaster, all struggle to balance being great for community-building while also fostering discovery. You’ve got platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which excel at helping you find new people and communities, but struggle with creating deep, engaged spaces. On the other hand, platforms like Telegram are great for tight-knit groups but are pretty terrible for finding new people.
It begs the question: Can a decentralized platform offer both? Farcaster seems to be leaning toward smaller, more curated channels, but this could slow down user discovery and onboarding. treegirl (aka Diana) shared her vision of a “read-only” option for channels, where the public can see what’s happening but only post if they meet specific criteria—like holding a token or subscribing to a creator’s Hypersub.
For smaller, values-aligned communities like Rehash, this could be the perfect setup: slow, steady growth with the right people. But for broader communities? The need for discovery and spontaneity might push some users away. It’s a delicate balance, and only time will tell if Farcaster can pull it off. As Humpty reflected, “The real power of Farcaster is in the diversity of its networks. We have to find a way to share that power without losing the openness that makes discovery possible.”
A Glimpse into the Future: Channels as Communities
As Pichi noted, we're going to see more creators building competitor channels to create their own communities, especially if Farcaster’s current model doesn’t fit their needs. For some, channels will become invite-only, like exclusive digital clubs where only the “in crowd” can participate. Others may experiment with open channels, but with stronger moderation tools in the pipeline (fingers crossed, Merkle team!), this could become more manageable.
And let’s not forget about the rise of Fan Tokens—more and more creators will likely turn to tokens as the key to access their communities. It’s not just about content anymore; it’s about ownership, participation, and being part of something bigger.
In a nutshell: Farcaster is growing up, and so are its communities. Whether it’s moderation, discovery, or ownership, the choices we make today will shape the Farcaster of tomorrow. Will we end up with walled gardens or open fields? It’s up to all of us to decide.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned, because these next few weeks are going to be pivotal. We’ll be watching closely as creators decide how to manage their channels, and as new users navigate the changing landscape.
Until next time, keep creating interesting content! 🌐
—Your Farcaster Friends
Listen to the full recorded conversation on Tavern:
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