Why a newsletter?

Isn’t email dead? It might be (on the other hand, most people don’t think it actually is), but if it is, it sure needs to get a comeback.

Most people would argue that Social Media (and especially messaging apps) replaced email as a way to communicate and share.

And of course this makes sense. Social media made a pretty compelling promise: It connects you with others, others who think like you think, act like you’re acting, and are interested in the same things you are interested in. They’re interested in what you’re doing, and they’re doing things you are interested in.

Turns out, that isn’t entirely true.

Social media does allow you to connect with other people. But you are not in control of these connections. The social media company owns them, and they rent them to you. These connections will never be yours, never be under your control, and if the technology giant behind the emojis and thumbs-up-gestures ever pivots their business model, they will be gone.

I grew up on an internet where we would dream about an egalitarian info-scape (yes, we were using such words, back then) where everyone could be - should be - would be - a publisher.
Be it through their homepages (that’s what we called it), mailing lists (you probably don’t know what that is), discussion groups or some fancy new thing called „blog“ (although we weren’t sure what the difference between a blog and a homepage was - exactly).

Technology you controlled. Connections between people that are owned and controlled by those very people. Without the need to „boost“ your posts to reach your friends.

Maybe it’s nostalgia. But I want this time back.

That’s why I’m starting this newsletter. I’m going to write about the things that are important to me, and hopefully to you as well. You can expect an inconsistent mix about digital media, technology, experience design, cycling and the occasional gem that doesn’t fit anywhere but is too good not to share.
I will try to keep it relevant, but I can’t promise that it won’t be funny at times. My apologies.

I will publish a new issue every two weeks, but I’m prepared to experiment with the schedule.

I’m not completely sure where it’s going, but I’m sure it’ll be a fun ride. I hope that you join me!