downas

a blog allows people to make or share posts online without the posts originating on a social media platform. this means that:

• anyone online can find the post once it's made public
• a social media account isn't necessary to access a public post
• the post can't be removed at the source by a social media platform

if that sounds useful to you, here's how to create one for free.

fastest/fewest requirements: sign up for an open writefreely instance (explained below)

write.as is a blogging platform that's part of the fediverse – people can automatically get new posts if they follow from something like mastodon, or subscribe using rss. anyone can also view the blog by just going to its url (link).

a list of writefreely instances is here, & many of them allow you to sign up just by creating a username & password – no need for email or anything else. then you can start posting.

many writefreely instances either have no apparent rules or highly permissive rules, & some don't have a clear way to contact whoever runs it. this suggests it's less likely certain things will get taken down (judging by the amount of spam posted to them) but that's not a sure thing.

(an instance is like a server – each one may be run by a different person or persons, & can have different rules or norms. different fediverse instances can talk to each other, meaning you can post on one & have it be seen by someone on another.)

takes longer (days) but may be safer: create a noblogs or blackblogs

noblogs & blackblogs are platforms that are based on wordpress, one of the most common kinds of blogging software. however, they've been modified to be more useful for anticapitalists & anti-statists. they have many more features than writefreely does, as well as an explicit political orientation.

to sign up for either, you need an email address from within their networks. those listed here should work, except for disroot. the process of requesting & getting approval for a blog &/or email can take a few days.

the policies of noblogs & blackblogs make it clear that at times they may take down some content, & indeed they have. but if you're aligned with their goals, you may find them much less restrictive than platforms owned by entities like meta or elend musk.

want anonymous submissions?

you might have your own method of soliciting submissions that works for you, but if you don't, you can make an anonymous email address (like protonmail, or the ones linked in the section above) & put it on your blog. on writefreely, it may be easiest to go to 'customize' & put it in the signature; on noblogs or blackblogs, you can make a contact page with more detailed information. (if you're very interested in this topic, consider reading this zine.)