Christian Selig, the developer behind the popular iOS Reddit client Apollo, has taken on an advisory role with the revitalised Digg. This development follows the acquisition of the platform by its original creator, Kevin Rose, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian earlier this year. The duo’s partnership is particularly interesting given their history as competitors in the social media space, with Digg and Reddit vying for dominance.
The addition of Selig is indicative of Digg’s ambition to innovate and reshape its identity in the online landscape. Selig was recently at the centre of controversy when Reddit implemented significant API price hikes in 2023, which rendered free apps like Apollo unsustainable. He revealed to users that maintaining Apollo under these new pricing structures would cost approximately $1.7 million monthly, leading to the app’s closure, much to the dismay of its user base.
Digg CEO Justin Mezzell expressed enthusiasm for Selig’s involvement, highlighting his commitment to community-focused development. “We’re thrilled to have Selig bringing that same craft and community-first thinking to Digg, helping us create a platform that is enjoyable to use and to be part of,” Mezzell stated.
As Digg moves forward, it aims to reinstate a sense of fun and engagement in the social internet, countering the overwhelming presence of AI-generated content that has flooded users’ feeds. Although the platform is not yet publicly accessible, it has initiated an early-access programme dubbed “Groundbreakers,” which requires a one-time fee of $5 to deter bots. The revenues generated from this initiative will be donated to selected local non-profits as chosen by the Digg community.
In a light-hearted nod to the recent drama surrounding Reddit’s API pricing, Mezzell remarked, “I simply won’t comment on that. We’re charting our own course here at Digg. But if I did comment, I would probably say ‘[redact] me sideways, what a fumble,’ but that would only be if I did say something publicly.”
Overall, Selig’s addition strengthens Digg’s mission to enhance user experience and foster a vibrant, interactive community online, steering clear of the pitfalls faced by other platforms.
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