Enhancing the Reading Experience: The Birth of Matter and the Power of Product Design

Enhancing the Reading Experience: The Birth of Matter and the Power of Product Design

In the digital age, where information is readily available at our fingertips, the way we consume and discover content has become increasingly important. Two individuals, Ben Springwater and Robert Mackenzie, recognized this need for improvement during their time at Nextdoor. Although their initial project, Tiny Bookstore, did not come to fruition, the idea behind it laid the foundation for their next venture, Matter.

Matter was born out of casual conversations between Ben and Rob, who quickly bonded over their love for reading and their shared frustration with the limitations of existing reading platforms. They believed that the previous generation of content consumption and discovery apps lacked enduring success because they centered around RSS feeds. These apps focused on the "where" of content, rather than the "who."

Recognizing the need for a more personalized and social reading experience, Matter aimed to address two fundamental questions: how we read and what we read. With the goal of improving content filters and information diets, Matter built a network of readers who could curate content and provide social context around their recommendations. To test the viability of their idea, they ran a roundup newsletter featuring content recommendations from public thinkers on Twitter.

One crucial insight that Ben and Rob discovered was that the best content on the internet was not necessarily recently written. This realization emphasized the importance of the aggregate impact of what we read, rather than the individual pieces themselves. Trustworthy recommendations from like-minded individuals became a key factor in enhancing content filters.

Understanding the power of community, Ben and Rob sought out early adopters who were power readers, actively engaged in the world of ideas, and community-oriented. They found their initial user base within three large online communities: the Interintellect, Progress Studies, and the Long Now Foundation. By working with the leaders of these communities, Matter was able to offer their members early access to valuable content and the opportunity to shape the product's design and recommendations engine.

One of the unique features of Matter is its focus on following authors across the web, rather than specific publications. This approach allows users to curate their feeds based on the individuals they admire, rather than relying solely on the reputation of websites. By tapping into the social graph of highlights, users can discover what their favorite authors find interesting, expanding their horizons and challenging their worldview.

Measuring the quality of content is a challenging task, but Matter strives to surface insightful pieces that users may not have otherwise discovered. By prioritizing content from obscure sources that is tangential to their core interests, Matter encourages users to explore new ideas and expand their intellectual boundaries.

In conclusion, Matter represents a new approach to content consumption and discovery, emphasizing the power of community, personalized recommendations, and the exploration of diverse perspectives. To enhance your own reading experience, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Seek out recommendations from trusted individuals: Whether through online communities or personal connections, trust recommendations from like-minded individuals who share your interests and values.

2. Embrace the power of the social graph: Follow authors across the web and discover what they find interesting. By tapping into the social graph of highlights, you can expand your intellectual horizons and challenge your worldview.

3. Embrace diversity in content consumption: Don't limit yourself to mainstream sources. Explore content from obscure sources that may offer unique insights and perspectives. Challenge your comfort zone and expand your knowledge.

By incorporating these strategies into your reading habits, you can enhance your content filters and embark on a journey of intellectual growth and discovery. Matter exemplifies the power of thoughtful product design in revolutionizing the way we read and engage with content in the digital age.