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Love the decentralized and open source approach. I'm building Exogram (Django/AGPL-3.0) to solve the same 'engagement' problem, but using semantic similarity of book highlights instead of voting.

No popularity metrics, just readers connecting through ideas. Would love to exchange 'failure mode' notes!

Repo: https://github.com/matzalazar/exogram

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Good to see a fellow anti-engager! If you send me an invite, I will definitely give it a try. As for the "readers connecting by using semantic similarity of books" - That is a great idea. I wonder, how have you addressed the "formation of echo chambers" problem? Or is it not the goal of this particular project (now/ever)?

Actually, the invitation tree (with its user-defined depth levels) is our primary defense for privacy and trust, ensuring you only interact with people within a certain 'social distance'.

To counter the echo chamber effect, we rely on the semantic engine. Since Exogram connects you through shared ideas across different books, it often surfaces perspectives from outside your immediate social circle. It prioritizes intellectual affinity over social or popular consensus.

Looking forward to seeing you on the waitlist! :)

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