Substack CEO Chris Best recently expressed his frustration over Twitter’s actions against his platform, especially following the launch of Substack’s new feature, Notes. This situation intensified after Elon Musk‘s controversial takeover of Twitter. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the key events surrounding this issue, the impact on Substack users, and what both parties have to say.
The Launch of Substack Notes:
Substack, a popular subscription newsletter platform for writers, introduced a new feature called Notes last week. This feature shares some similarities with Twitter, allowing users to post short messages and updates. However, Twitter’s response to the new feature has led to increased tensions between the two platforms.
Twitter‘s Actions Against Substack:
Twitter, now under the management of Elon Musk, took several steps against Substack. These actions included:
- Blocking the ability to like or retweet any posts containing the word “Substack.”
- Displaying a warning message when users clicked on Substack links.
- Preventing the word “Substack” from being searched on the platform.
These measures prompted a strong response from Substack users, most of whom are independent small business owners relying on Substack as an enterprise software provider. Many users threatened to leave Twitter and switch to Substack Notes.
Elon Musk’s Explanation:
Elon Musk defended his decision by alleging that Substack was “trying to download a massive portion of the Twitter database to bootstrap their Twitter clone.” This claim, however, was made without any supporting evidence.
Chris Best’s Response:
In light of these events, Substack CEO Chris Best addressed the issue through a post on Substack Notes (currently in beta). He highlighted that Substack has been using the Twitter API for years and believes they are in compliance with the terms of service. Best implied that Twitter had not informed Substack about any alleged violations.
Best emphasized that the situation is “very frustrating,” noting that Substack writers are customers of his enterprise software product. Consequently, Twitter’s actions have a more significant impact on individual small business owners than on the platform itself.
An Interesting Investment Connection:
It’s worth mentioning that venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has invested in both Substack and neo-Twitter. The current situation between the two platforms is undoubtedly putting that relationship to the test.
The ongoing conflict between Substack and Twitter, fueled by Elon Musk’s involvement, has left many small business owners and content creators in a difficult position. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how both platforms will navigate these challenges and find common ground.
