Substack, a popular platform for self-published articles and newsletters, has been revealed to be generating revenue from hosting Nazi-style newsletters with millions of subscribers. The investigation found that the platform's algorithm promotes content based on user engagement, inadvertently amplifying extremist views.
One such newsletter, NatSocToday, which boasts 2,800 subscribers, charges a premium subscription fee of $80 per year. Its posts often express white supremacist ideology and praise Adolf Hitler as "one of the greatest men of all time." The profile picture features a swastika, symbolizing Nazi party ideology.
Another account, Erika Drexler, has 241 subscribers and describes herself as an "NS activist." Her posts feature Hitler as her hero and claim he was "the most overqualified leader ever." A third account, Ava Wolfe, with 3,000 followers, promotes Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories, including the claim that doctors found no evidence of deliberate murder during the Holocaust.
These newsletters are not isolated incidents. The investigation revealed that Substack's algorithm often directs users to other profiles featuring similar content, creating a network of like-minded individuals. This phenomenon is particularly concerning given the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia worldwide.
Critics argue that this platform profits from hateful material while failing to adequately address it. Danny Stone, CEO of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, stated that online harm can inspire real-world violence and called for greater regulation of harmful content.
The Holocaust Educational Trust echoed these concerns, describing the spread of conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial as a "disgrace." Joani Reid, Labour's chair of the all-party parliamentary group against antisemitism, planned to write to Substack and Ofcom to demand action.
Substack has faced criticism in the past for hosting extremist content. In 2023, its co-founder Hamish McKenzie wrote that the platform doesn't condone Nazi views but instead advocates for open discourse to strip bad ideas of their power. However, critics argue that this approach is inadequate given the real-world consequences of such ideologies.
As Substack continues to generate revenue from these newsletters, it raises questions about the responsibility of tech companies to curb hate speech and promote a safer online environment.
One such newsletter, NatSocToday, which boasts 2,800 subscribers, charges a premium subscription fee of $80 per year. Its posts often express white supremacist ideology and praise Adolf Hitler as "one of the greatest men of all time." The profile picture features a swastika, symbolizing Nazi party ideology.
Another account, Erika Drexler, has 241 subscribers and describes herself as an "NS activist." Her posts feature Hitler as her hero and claim he was "the most overqualified leader ever." A third account, Ava Wolfe, with 3,000 followers, promotes Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories, including the claim that doctors found no evidence of deliberate murder during the Holocaust.
These newsletters are not isolated incidents. The investigation revealed that Substack's algorithm often directs users to other profiles featuring similar content, creating a network of like-minded individuals. This phenomenon is particularly concerning given the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia worldwide.
Critics argue that this platform profits from hateful material while failing to adequately address it. Danny Stone, CEO of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, stated that online harm can inspire real-world violence and called for greater regulation of harmful content.
The Holocaust Educational Trust echoed these concerns, describing the spread of conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial as a "disgrace." Joani Reid, Labour's chair of the all-party parliamentary group against antisemitism, planned to write to Substack and Ofcom to demand action.
Substack has faced criticism in the past for hosting extremist content. In 2023, its co-founder Hamish McKenzie wrote that the platform doesn't condone Nazi views but instead advocates for open discourse to strip bad ideas of their power. However, critics argue that this approach is inadequate given the real-world consequences of such ideologies.
As Substack continues to generate revenue from these newsletters, it raises questions about the responsibility of tech companies to curb hate speech and promote a safer online environment.
. The fact that Substack's algorithm is inadvertently amplifying extremist views by promoting content based on user engagement is alarming 
. It highlights the need for more robust moderation and regulation measures to prevent the spread of hateful material online. The lack of adequate action from Substack despite past criticisms is also worrying 
. As tech companies continue to prioritize profits over safety, we risk creating an environment where hate speech can thrive 
. Greater transparency and accountability are needed to ensure that platforms like Substack are not contributing to the spread of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of online harm 
.
So like substack is making money from these super racist and hateful newsletters and its just wild how their algorithm is promoting them to more people... i mean i get that they want to keep users engaged but come on, thats not the same as being responsible. Its like, dont spread hate just because some ppl are gonna pay u for it 
And what if these newsletters start getting people all riled up in real life? its scary thinkin about. Shouldnt substack be doin more to stop this kind of stuff from happenin? 
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. Companies like Substack have a responsibility to protect their users and prevent the spread of hate speech. This isn't just about censorship, it's about keeping people safe online 
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. Let's get to the bottom of this and make some real change 
is just a red flag.
And what about all the harm it could inspire in real life? As Danny Stone said, online harm can lead to real-world violence... we need more regulation now! 
#SubstackProblems #HateSpeechIsReal #TechCompaniesMustAct
OMG, like, I cant believe what im reading rn! how could substack do this? theyre literally hosting these super extremist newsletters with millions of subs... i mean, $80 a year?! that's straight up crazy talk 
its so concerning tho cuz antisemitism and islamophobia r already so prevalent online & offline lol no need for platforms to profit from hate speech like that 
we need more regulation like that 
anyway, does anyone know how they can report these kinds of accounts on substack? i wanna make sure not to subscribe to any of those newsletters 
. We need to be more careful about what we're exposing ourselves to online and tech companies should be responsible for keeping their platforms safe 
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. Time for stricter moderation, not 'open discourse' 
. As Substack continues to rake in that dough, I'm reminded of the importance of accountability 
. We need to hold them to a higher standard, one where profit isn't prioritized over people's safety 
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and yeah, it's not isolated stuff either, these algorithms seem to be creating a whole ecosystem of hate. gotta wonder if they're even taking this seriously or just like, 'hey, more eyeballs is good business'. need some real change now 
and making money off it 
. gotta call out substack for profiting from hate speech 
i mean its not ideal that they're profiting from hateful content but come on who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory 
especially ones about adolf hitler being the ultimate leader 
. i guess thats what happens when u let the algorithm run wild and promotes whatever gets the most engagement, even if it's hate speech 
.
Tech companies gotta do better than that, especially when it comes to things like this. Like, what about those who are being hurt by this kind of content? Don't they deserve some protection? 
what needs to happen is more regulation and some serious consequences for these platforms who are profiting off this toxic stuff 
They're profiting from hateful material? That's so wrong! I mean, I know they said they don't condone it but come on, the algorithm is promoting that stuff and stuff like that