nostr:npub1dmu30axh63xcd2d40pj8lmnd008utpu9mz2ru3dnj9gd3kz2zr2qd74mg5 is a research group looking in to how to make social media a heathier space for everybody.

They just put out a presentation on how to make local digital communties that work. I’d love to be able to build these communities on top of Nostr. 

Here’s the slides: https://bit.ly/local-digital-spaces

A lot of their research is looking at FrontPorchForum.com , which is a social network only for Vermont, but it’s REALLY popular in Vermont… 80% of households and 50% of adults in the state are active on Front Porch Forum. 

https://newpublic.org/study/3635/front-porch-forum

One thing which jumps out from this is how groups or community spaces need a steward for a community. Somebody to welcome newcomers, set norms, sometimes moderate, and generally be the welcomer. Just like physical spaces tend to have people who steward them. 

New Public has a guide for strewarding a digital community: https://newpublic.notion.site/Creating-a-Flourishing-Digital-Public-Space-for-Your-Local-Area-6e563c345c494cceb1b95f6dfd282519

Right now we’ve got several kinds of groups, from just access restricted relays to a bunch of group nips… I think if we look at what works elsewhere it can inform how we build them on Nostr.