VISION

Reblogger was started as an attempt to address the problem of information saturation in society. There is in effect too much information in circulation which has resulted in a cacophonous atmosphere where crucial decision-making suffers at both the individual as well as societal levels. Emergent information that has the potential to provide greater insight than previously held beliefs gets co-opted into existing ideological and discursive patterns because of our collective inability to process information in a universally beneficial way.

Complicating this situation is the broken model of information circulation and distribution online which has led to the rampant spread of misinformation and disinformation. Instead of curbing this spread, social media platforms and media companies have institutionalised it in the pursuit of financial rewards. Repeated calls for the boycott or prosecution of such digital brands have had limited or no effect.

It is unconscionable that in this day and age, with the kinds and scale of communication technologies at our disposal, we do not have a sustainable and ethical model for the dissemination of reliable information.

The over-dependence on algorithms and refusal to take responsibility as a publisher that characterise all major digital platforms is directly responsible for the current state of affairs. Furthermore, while the dispersal of the latest information resources is important, a concerted effort needs to be made to adequately publicise archival informative and engaging content instead of bombarding people with a constant stream of the latest content, which is often just repackaged old content.

Keeping this context in mind, Reblogger is envisioned as a platform for curating and promoting knowledge resources online. These knowledge resources could be in the form of informative blog posts, insightful articles, engaging videos, or any other media.

We aim to rectify the flaws of the broken models that typify social media, recommendation algorithms, and online advertising through:

• Adding another editorial layer to the existing editorial practices of publications that generate quality knowledge resources through our curation. That is why our stress on curating existing content instead of publishing original material.
• Providing people a place to browse through a wide range of quality content without having to sign up, subscribe, or in any other way give up their personal information if they don’t want to.
• Providing a way for people to leave the rampant violence and abuse of social media without having to give up access to information and entertainment.
• Prioritising content that is not behind any kind of paywall. That is why this is also envisioned as a platform for the free promotion of quality content so that creators and publications can reach out to paying subscribers while also keeping their content free for others.
• Amplifying the reach of conscientious creators who are pushed off the radar or silenced through the unpredictable algorithmic and/or human decisions of social media platforms.
• Sharing archival information that would otherwise be as good as forgotten in the seemingly endless stream of the latest content.
• Giving knowledge from and about the Global South as much importance as that from/about the North. 
• Not resorting to predatory advertising and data harvesting tactics.
• Not posting clickbait or subpar content.

Additionally, we shall take any other steps that are in keeping with our intent to infuse ethics into the design and practices of information-sharing platforms.