This platform is expected to become a safe and peaceful place for users. Instead of controversial information about the US presidential election, Donald Trump, or Elon Musk, this forum features posts like finding lost rabbits or local school board meetings.
This is Front Porch Forum (FPF) - where more than half of Vermont's adults participate. More than Facebook, Instagram, or local news sites, this website is where local people interact online with neighbors, aiming to create a kind and peaceful online community.
According to the Washington Post, the website is full of news and text-heavy, so it might not be as popular as big social networks. However, this makes FPF famous. It's hard to find user-attracting tricks or recommendation algorithms on FPF.
A new study from the nonprofit New Public shows that Front Porch is one of the few online communities in the US that helps users feel more connected. "I can't imagine life in rural Vermont without FPF. It's like the glue that holds our community together," said Don Heise, a local resident, to the Washington Post.
On Front Porch Forum, there is no real-time news feed, no like button, no recommendation algorithms, and no way to reach people outside your area. Founder and CEO Michael Wood-Lewis says the forum exists to promote real-world interactions between neighbors.
"The platform does not try to be an online metaverse. We do not try to keep people online 24/7. We just want people to pay attention for 10 minutes each day," he said.
While most tech giants see content moderation as a side feature, Front Porch Forum considers it a core guiding principle. Twelve out of thirty full-time employees spend their days reading every user post before it is published. Any content that violates the rules is removed.
This process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it helps Front Porch Forum become the highest-scoring platform ever in New_Public's "Civic Signals" to measure online user health.
Every day, retired expert Tom Zenaty reads news on FPF. This habit has lasted for over 17 years. He says, "This is the center of the community in town," and "a place to learn about neighborhood meetings, library activities." People often post to sell or give away items.
"We hope this is where people communicate respectfully about important community issues," Zenaty said. This is in contrast to the "attack mode" often seen on other platforms like X and Facebook.
According to Eli Pariser, co-director of New_Public, Front Porch users' satisfaction shows the strict content moderation level. Founder Wood-Lewis established Front Porch Forum in 40 Vermont neighborhoods in 2006. People outside the neighborhood cannot join. Local businesses must pay to advertise, and this money makes up most of the company’s revenue.
“If your issue is barking dogs or needles in the park, express your dissatisfaction but do not mention specific people or dogs. We cannot verify and do not want you to harm someone’s reputation,” said FPF CEO.
Source: Washington Post
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