"The Power of Curation: How Matter is Revolutionizing Content Consumption"

"The Power of Curation: How Matter is Revolutionizing Content Consumption"

In an era where technology is shaping every aspect of our lives, it's no surprise that software has taken over the world. From increasing access to scarce resources to revolutionizing industries, the power of technology is undeniable. But what happens when abundance becomes the new norm? This is where the story of Matter begins.

Ben Springwater and Robert Mackenzie, former colleagues at Nextdoor, shared a common passion for reading and a frustration with the limitations of existing content consumption platforms. They believed that indie authors, who often struggle to find a larger audience, deserved more visibility. While their initial project, Tiny Bookstore, didn't come to fruition, it laid the foundation for what would become Matter.

The concept of Matter was born out of casual conversations at Nextdoor, where Ben and Rob bonded over their love for reading and their dissatisfaction with the current reading stack. They realized that previous content consumption or discovery apps focused too heavily on the "where" rather than the "who." RSS feeds were a popular choice, but they lacked the social context and personal touch that readers craved.

Recognizing the need for a more personalized and curated reading experience, Matter set out to answer two fundamental questions: how we read and what we read. By building a network of readers who could curate content and provide social context around their recommendations, Matter aimed to bridge the gap between readers and authors.

To validate their idea, Ben and Rob ran a roundup newsletter featuring content recommendations from public thinkers on Twitter. They discovered that the vast majority of the best content on the internet was not written recently, highlighting the importance of timeless pieces. This realization further reinforced the significance of trust recommendations in improving our content filters and information diets.

One key insight that drove the development of Matter was the fact that people save more content than they can consume. This led to the creation of the highly-curated recommendations feed, which resonated with power readers who were actively engaged in the world of ideas. By focusing on the interests and challenges of their users, Matter aimed to surface insightful content from obscure sources that challenged their worldviews.

To attract early adopters, Ben and Rob turned to three large online communities: the Interintellect, Progress Studies, and the Long Now Foundation. By working with the leaders of these communities, Matter offered their members early access to valuable content and the opportunity to shape the product and recommendations engine.

In Matter, the focus is on following authors across the web rather than publications. This shift in perspective allows readers to curate their feed based on the people they admire, rather than relying solely on websites. The social graph of highlights further enhances the curation experience, enabling users to discover what their favorite authors find interesting.

Measuring the quality of content is a challenging task, but Matter believes that insights, information density, and the author can serve as proxies for high-quality pieces. However, the true success of Matter lies in its ability to surface insightful content that users wouldn't have otherwise discovered. By challenging their core interests and worldviews, Matter pushes readers to expand their horizons and engage with diverse perspectives.

The rise of software has transformed industries by unbundling and rebuilding products and services. From songs to articles, everything has been unbundled from its traditional format and rebundled into new platforms. This shift has highlighted the importance of curation in a world of abundance. As the unit of production and capital becomes less relevant, attention and loyalty become the new scarce resources.

Ben Thompson's aggregation theory perfectly captures this phenomenon. In a pre-internet world, profits were captured by controlling supply. However, in a post-internet world, profits are captured by aggregating demand. As technology continues to make a massive difference in areas like education, housing, and healthcare, the importance of curation only grows.

In conclusion, Matter has revolutionized content consumption by focusing on the power of curation. By connecting readers with authors, providing personalized recommendations, and challenging worldviews, Matter offers a unique and transformative reading experience. If you're looking to enhance your content filters and discover insightful pieces, here are three actionable advice:

1. Embrace the power of curation: Shift your focus from publications to authors and follow those who inspire you.

2. Challenge your worldview: Seek out content that challenges your core interests and expands your horizons.

3. Engage with diverse perspectives: Don't limit yourself to mainstream sources. Explore obscure sources to discover hidden gems.

In a world of abundance, attention and loyalty are the new scarce resources. With Matter, you can navigate the vast ocean of content and find the pieces that truly matter to you. So dive in, embrace the power of curation, and unlock a world of knowledge and inspiration.