A new social media platform, Sez Us, has launched with the aim of fostering more constructive online discussions by discouraging inflammatory content. Founded by political strategist Joe Trippi, the platform introduces a reputation-based system that penalizes users who engage in disruptive or rage-inducing interactions.
Sez Us operates on a “reputation engine” where users rate others’ posts based on approval, influence, insightfulness, relevance, and politeness. These ratings determine a user’s visibility and engagement within the platform – those with higher scores have a greater reach, while lower-rated users may find their interactions limited. Unlike traditional content moderation systems that rely on platform administrators to remove content, Sez Us places the power in the hands of the community.
“If you bring back responsibility, ownership, and reputation, then suddenly all the incentives that we have in the real world are back,” said Yevgeny Simkin, co-founder and chief product officer of Sez Us. Instead of amplifying outrage-driven content, as seen on platforms like X, the system rewards users who contribute positively to discussions.
Sez Us is built using a decentralized social networking protocol, meaning users retain control of their data and can move their content between platforms. Additionally, the app aims to limit bots through mobile verification, while its rating system is designed to prevent bad actors from gaining influence.
Currently, the platform has 10,000 active users, a small number compared to mainstream social networks. However, its founders believe that by shifting incentives away from engagement-driven virality, Sez Us can cultivate a more thoughtful online environment. Whether this model will scale effectively remains to be seen, but it marks another effort in rethinking how digital spaces can encourage meaningful interaction.
