A PLACE FOR PEOPLE: Yuga Labs’ James Hall Launches A Throwback Social Media Platform That’s Not For Bots!
- Kyle
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
From AI slop on X to an AI agents only platforms called Moltbook, the internet is becoming more and more for bots with each passing day, which is exactly what makes this new, people first, social media platform feel so unique.
Earlier this month, Yuga Labs head engineer and GobsOnApe founder James Hall launched The Commons, a throwback social media platform built for the days before AI was everywhere.
“Welcome to The Commons,” he wrote. “A return to old school social media, where conversation, sharing, and engagement are meant to be fun."
On The Commons, anyone can view posts, but only paying members can post, a design choice meant to put a stop to slop and irrelevant replies, while encouraging thoughtful back and forth discourse that has largely faded away in recent years.
“The Commons is not for everybody, and that is OK,” Hall wrote. “It is not trying to replace everything. It is just trying to make one part of the internet feel normal again.”
Once logged in, The Commons greets new users with its “Firehose” feed, which shows the latest posts from across the platform.
Users can also browse curated daily lists like “Hot Posts” and “Most Discussed,” making it easy to jump into the most active conversations.
One post generating discussion this weekend centers on IP infringement in Otherside, highlighting exactly the kind of thoughtful, niche dialogue the platform is all about.
The Commons is a place for thoughtful conversation on the internet,” Hall wrote. “It’s built for people who work in and around technology, crypto, and creative fields — especially those who feel worn down by performative feeds, algorithmic outrage, and incentive-driven posting elsewhere… We believe good conversations happen when people feel accountable to one another, not when they’re rewarded for volume or virality. There are no ads, no algorithms optimizing for engagement, and no paid reach. What you see is what people chose to say, in the order it was said.”
As of tonight, 69 people have signed up for The Commons, and anyone interested is invited to join the conversation for $20 per year.
For more information or to check out the Commons for yourself, visit the platform here: https://cmmns.app/home