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a16z Podcast | Community and Culture, Online
15 segments available
We’re so used to thinking of “community” as our friends, families, and neighbors. But what a community is, and who it is made of, has changed thanks to the internet, and without our noticing it. What happens when online communities -- really, new subcultures -- form primarily around interests, not just personal relationships? Featuring VP of Product at Reddit Alex Le, CEO of Rabbit Michael Temkin, and CEO and co-founder of HVMN Geoffrey Woo -- in conversation with a16z general partner Chris Dixon -- this episode of the a16z Podcast is based on a discussion that took place at a16z’s annual Summit in November 2017. As communities of strangers and activities connect online and offline in new and different ways, what else changes?
Segments Timeline
Redefining Community in the Digital Age
In this segment, Chris Dixon introduces the podcast's theme of community and culture online, featuring insights from Alex Le, Michael Temkin, and Geoffrey Woo. The discussion highlights how the internet has transformed our understanding of community, shifting from traditional relationships to interest-based connections.
"hi and welcome to the a 16z podcast this episode of the podcast is all about community and culture online moderated by Chris Dixon general partner at a 16z and including Alex lay VP of product at Redd..."
The Rise of Interest-Based Communities
The conversation delves into how online communities are forming around shared interests rather than personal relationships. The speakers discuss the empowerment of individuals to self-organize into large communities, enabling discussions on topics like cognitive enhancers and citizen science, which were previously difficult to explore.
"2017 it's interesting because these communities prior to the internet I don't know they may have been formed through in-person meetup groups or magazines or something like this but now it's happening ..."
Breaking Geographic Barriers
Geoffrey Woo emphasizes the role of the internet in breaking down geographic barriers, allowing people with similar interests to connect easily. He shares insights on how communities focused on cognitive enhancement and nootropics have emerged organically on platforms like Reddit, fostering a culture of experimentation and shared knowledge.
"that enable these conversations but I think in some sense I think all of these communities yeah we're empowered by the availability of breaking on Geographic walls we just have these very easy convers..."
The Evolution of Reddit Communities
Alex Le discusses the evolution of Reddit from a single community to a vast network of subreddits. He explains how each subreddit is moderated by its community, allowing for diverse discussions and the growth of niche interests, which can sometimes be misunderstood by outsiders.
"for people to acquire nootropics and get into biohacking so it made sense in terms of like the entrepreneurial light bulb if a lot of people were organically getting into this topic and a lot of peopl..."
The Network Effect of Communities
The speakers explore the network effect of Reddit communities, where each new community strengthens the overall network. Alex Le shares how Reddit aims to foster healthy communities while managing those that may negatively impact the platform, highlighting the balance between growth and moderation.
"how do you think about like kind of balancing wanting to foster these communities at the same time you obviously have communities that you may not love you talk about that yeah I mean I think the easi..."
Content Creation and Community Engagement
The discussion shifts to how Reddit serves as a source of authentic opinions and content creation. The speakers reflect on the role of communities in shaping public discourse and how the platform facilitates genuine interactions among users, contrasting it with traditional media.
"community nominates their own moderators exactly so we have about 50,000 active on any given day and those are self run communities the moderators are really behind the scenes doing a lot more to keep..."
The Impact of Video on Community Interaction
Michael Temkin introduces Rabbit, a platform for synchronous viewing experiences. He explains how Rabbit allows users to watch content together while engaging in real-time discussions, enhancing the sense of community and connection among users who share similar interests.
"we want to keep seeing that happen one of the ways I think about it is the Internet is sort of a set of communities and then there's this relationship between the different websites so for example red..."
The Shift to Video Engagement
The conversation highlights the growing trend of video engagement in online communities. The speakers discuss how video has lowered barriers for participation, encouraging users who typically lurk to share content and engage more actively within their communities.
"of the smarter politicians get that and they know they need to affect the mouth of the river right yeah to in order to affect downstream yeah and it also affects like SEO and all these search results ..."
Commercial Intent in Online Communities
Alex Le discusses the commercial potential within online communities, emphasizing that passionate users are often willing to spend money on products related to their interests. The speakers explore how businesses can authentically engage with these communities without appearing overly commercial.
"content together you know it's really will typically watch it honestly it's everything and and that's where the sub communities come in so we have it's usually what happens with rabbit is people will ..."
Authenticity in Community Interactions
The speakers reflect on the importance of authenticity in community interactions. They discuss how brands must genuinely engage with communities rather than simply marketing to them, highlighting the need for a real give-and-take relationship to foster trust and loyalty.
"watch that social graph develop around related content or related communities as I understand it's like a lot of its just people watching random YouTube videos and things so it's almost like the video..."
Future Trends in Online Communities
The discussion turns to future trends in online communities, with the speakers predicting that niche interests will become mainstream. They explore how the internet's evolution will continue to shape community dynamics and the cultural landscape, emphasizing the role of technology in this transformation.
"yeah so we actually rolled out video to a subset of our communities just a little while ago and it's been an amazing thing to watch the most incredible thing we found is people who are not posting any..."
The Role of Science in Community Growth
The speakers discuss the necessity of underlying science and data to support community-driven trends, such as biohacking. They emphasize that for communities to thrive, there must be a foundation of truth driving their practices and beliefs.
"equipment you have you pretty much any topic you can think of you've got people who are ready to engage with their dollars but I would say that I think people are smart I don't think people like being..."
Challenges for Traditional Media
The conversation addresses the challenges traditional media faces in adapting to the internet age. The speakers argue that traditional brands often struggle to authentically engage with online communities, leading to a disconnect between their messaging and audience expectations.
"actually exactly how we think about it as well because the experiences in Rabbid even if you're meeting new people who you know you wouldn't know in the real world they're still very intimate experien..."
The Influence of Geography on Media
The speakers discuss how traditional media still operates within geographic constraints, while online communities transcend these boundaries. They highlight the shift in audience engagement and the need for media companies to adapt to this new reality.
"spending less and less time watching traditional TV consuming traditional media more and more time and internet more and more time on their smartphones all the statistics bear that out that's happenin..."
The Future of eSports and Community Dynamics
The podcast concludes with a discussion on the future of eSports and how traditional sports teams are beginning to adopt eSports franchises. The speakers reflect on the changing nature of community identity in the digital age, where geographic affiliations are less relevant than shared interests.
"you think the same things gonna happen biohacking so I really see anything that's one of your like key theses like what are smart people doing on weekends and how did is that gonna be a behavior that ..."