Latest news with #JordanCrook
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Graze Raises $1M to Take Back Social Media from Algorithmic Control
Backed by Betaworks and Salesforce Ventures, Graze Puts Users in Charge of Their FeedsPORTLAND, Ore., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Social media has long been dictated by opaque algorithms, but Graze is proving there's another way. Today, the company announced $1 million in pre-seed funding to fuel its mission of empowering users to create and control their own social media feeds on Bluesky. Instead of being force-fed content by traditional platforms, individuals and organizations can now build their own custom feeds — taking back control from algorithm-driven gatekeeping. The round was led by Betaworks and Salesforce Ventures, with additional backing from Factorial, Apertu Capital, Skyseed, and angel investors from Mozilla and Protocol Labs. 'Betaworks has long been a backer of and believer in the open web and Graze represents a huge step forward in making social media a more open, user-controlled environment,' said Jordan Crook, partner at Betaworks. 'Together with Bluesky, the Graze team is building a participatory social media culture where feeds are created, curated, and consumed by individual users.' 'At Graze, we're committed to dismantling the restrictive barriers of traditional social media platforms,' said Peat Bakke, CEO and co-founder of Graze. "By leveraging open infrastructure, we're empowering users to curate their own content experiences, ensuring they have the autonomy to shape their social media interactions according to their preferences.' A New Era of Social Media is Taking Shape Journalists and news outlets are leaving traditional social media in large numbers, seeking better platforms to share their stories. The Guardian, for example, stopped posting on X over concerns about harmful content and has turned to Bluesky instead. The shift is already having a tangible impact—traffic from Bluesky to The Guardian's website is now twice that of Threads, and nearly 1 million people have accessed news directly through feeds created on the Graze platform. The trend is clear: both journalists and readers are moving toward independent, user-driven platforms. "Graze is already showing real traction on Bluesky. Their success highlights that people want meaningful control over their social feeds," said Rose Wang, COO of Bluesky. Since its launch in November 2024, Graze has delivered curated content to approximately 1.8 million Bluesky users, representing a significant portion of the platform's active user base. This rapid adoption highlights the growing demand for personalized, algorithm-free content experiences. Empowering Media and Content Creators Graze equips media brands and content creators with the tools they need to take back control of how their content is distributed and consumed. With Graze, they can: Boost Visibility – Custom feeds ensure content reaches targeted audiences, increasing engagement. Maintain Editorial Integrity – Full control over feeds allows creators to align content with their brand's voice and values. Access In-Depth Analytics – Data-driven insights help optimize content strategies based on real audience interactions. Fueling Developer Innovation on Bluesky Graze also empowers developers by offering flexible tools to build and customize new experiences on Bluesky, including: No-Code Feed Creation – A visual editor enables quick, custom feed design without complex coding. Advanced Content Filtering – Support for complex logic combinations allows for fine-tuned content curation. Real-Time Updates – Instant feed updates ensure users always get the most current content. The Future of Social Media is Built for Users, Not Billionaires 'Social media shouldn't be controlled by billionaires, it should belong to the people," said Devin Gaffney, CTO and co-founder of Graze. "We've moved beyond the outdated, closed-platform model by embracing an open-source ecosystem that puts users and creators in control. The future of social media is about transparency, choice, and giving people the power to shape their own experience.' As Bluesky continues to gain momentum, Graze is committed to accelerating its growth, with a vision to help Bluesky reach 100 million users by the end of the year. By prioritizing openness, autonomy, and user-driven content, Graze is reshaping the future of social media, one feed at a time. About GrazeGraze enables users to create custom feeds on Bluesky, providing tools that allow individuals and organizations to design and control their social media experience. By offering sophisticated building blocks akin to those used by major social media companies, Graze empowers users to curate content that aligns with their interests and values. Committed to transparency and user empowerment, Graze is redefining how people interact with social media. For more information, visit Media Contact: Juliet TravisLiftoff Communicationsjuliet@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Aussies divided as travellers push for major change at national parks
Hundreds of travellers are calling for a major change to Aussie national parks. They're asking for long-established bans on dogs entering most national parks around the country to be lifted. 'This law makes it very difficult for many Australians with their family pet to visit some of the most beautiful areas in Australia,' the petition states. Al, who co-created the petition with his partner told Yahoo News he thinks pet dogs can co-exist alongside lyrebirds, koalas and bandicoots. "The rest of the world allows dogs in their national parks," he said. That's true in Canada and some parts of the United Kingdom and the United States, but Australia's closest neighbour New Zealand has a blanket ban. The petition has had a mixed response on a forum for caravan owners who travel with dogs, with many warning there are too many "irresponsible" dog owners with pets that aren't properly controlled. "I don't think people would keep their dogs on a lead and the wildlife would suffer," one person said. But it has struck a chord with some dog owners, with close to 650 people signing the petition in 48 hours. One signatory called the national park dog exclusion 'unfair'. 'You should be able to take all family members into national parks… including well-behaved on-leash fur ones,' another person wrote. Related: 😳 Surprising twist after hundreds boycott Great Northern Beer Dogs are permitted inside many reserves and state parks around the country, but other than service animals, they're banned in national parks The petition argues that pet owners are forced to shell out for house sitters and expensive kennels if they want to enter many of the country's wild forests, beaches and mountains. To avoid ruining the parks, the petition's creators have suggested dog owners would need to pick up after their dogs and keep them on a leash at all times. But national park advocates have labelled the plan 'flawed' despite them acknowledging it's 'well-intentioned'. 'It's coming from a good place because we all love our dogs. But the problem is that dogs smell, and that smell can drive away wildlife,' Jordan Crook from the Victorian National Parks Association told Yahoo News. 'There's mountains of evidence on the issue in Australia. Lyrebirds and shorebirds like hooded plovers can abandon their eggs altogether if there's a dog around. Bandicoots and wallabies can be scared away if there's a dog in the area.' ☠️ A quarter of koalas monitored during controversial road project die 💧 Sad photos after rare Aussie flood event 🌳 Charming Aussie town split over future of 80-year-old trees Even if dogs are leashed and unable to chase wildlife, they could still have an impact on many species. 'Their barking, scent and wee can deter them. And they smell different to dingoes, so the response from wildlife is a lot different,' Crook said. Some states allow dogs to enter reserves and state parks, but on the whole introduced species like dogs, cats and horses are not allowed inside national parks. That's because they provide the country's only safe habitat for some species. 'We're going into their only home a lot of the time. We can't forget that when we enter these natural areas,' Crook said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
