Digg Reboot Launches Early Access

Digg's Revival: A New Community Takes Shape

The revitalization of the pioneering social news platform, Digg, is now in progress. Kevin Rose, the original founder, and Alexis Ohanian, a co-founder of Reddit, have initiated an early-access community. This launch is specifically for individuals who registered following last month’s announcement of their Digg acquisition and subsequent plans for a reimagined platform.

Introducing the "Groundbreakers" Program

This initial community phase is titled “Groundbreakers” and requires a one-time joining fee of $5. Digg clarifies that this fee is primarily intended to deter automated bots, rather than generate revenue.

The funds collected will be donated to a nonprofit organization. The selection of this organization will be a collaborative decision made within the community itself.

Exclusive Access and Benefits

Members of the Groundbreakers program will receive exclusive access to “updates, mockups, and experiments.” This provides a unique, firsthand perspective on the ongoing reconstruction of Digg.

Furthermore, participants will be granted priority in securing usernames. They will also receive a distinctive “Groundbreakers badge” displayed on their profile. This badge recognizes them as foundational contributors to the new Digg.

Platform and Initial Response

The community experience is being facilitated through Circle, a web-based platform designed for creators to build and manage online communities.

The number of individuals accepted into the early-access program is currently undisclosed. Initial access on Thursday morning experienced some minor technical difficulties, including slow loading times and occasional bugs.

However, by the time of publication, nearly 3,000 people had successfully joined the Groundbreakers community.