Why Can't Writers Seem to Quit Substack?

9 hours ago

The article discusses whether writers should stay on Substack, highlighting the platform's problematic aspects such as hosting and promoting harmful content like Nazis, anti-vaxxers, and misogynists.
Many writers face a moral and practical dilemma: leaving Substack due to ethical concerns versus staying for its discoverability and ease of use, with fears of losing subscribers, income, and migration challenges.
Interviews with writers who left Substack for alternatives like Beehiiv and Ghost reveal mixed experiences: some faced difficult migrations and initial losses but found improved control, support, and ethical alignment on new platforms.
Leaving Substack can impact discoverability and growth, as it offers a centralized, algorithmic network, but alternative platforms provide more data control and may foster more intentional readership.
The newsletter model is questioned for long-term sustainability due to reliance on individual subscriptions, challenges in growing audiences without platform support, and the financial burden on readers and writers alike.
Writers advise those considering leaving Substack to prioritize ethical or financial reasons, prepare for potential loneliness and slower growth, and explore ways to build smaller, more sustainable communities.

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