The Listserve was a global email lottery, where one subscriber was randomly selected each day to send an email to all other subscribers. The project started in April 2012 and was designed as a social experiment, aiming to give ordinary people a platform to share their thoughts with a large audience, while only allowing readers to reply directly to the writer.[1]
| Type | Email list |
|---|---|
| Launch date | April 2012 |
| Website | thelistserve.com |
History
editThe Listserve was created by Alvin Chang, Greg Dorsainville, Yoonjo Choi, Zena Koo, and Josh Begley. They conceived of the idea as graduate students at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).[2] The idea behind The Listserve was to explore what people would say if they had the opportunity to address a large audience with a single email. Each day, a random subscriber was chosen to send an email to all other subscribers.
The project quickly gained attention and grew in popularity, amassing tens of thousands of subscribers from around the world.[3] The emails covered a wide range of topics, from personal stories and advice to political opinions and philosophical musings.[4]
The Listserve ceased operations in 2018.[5]
Format
editSubscribers to The Listserve received one email per day, written by a randomly selected member of the list. The emails were unedited. There were no specific rules about what could be shared, but contributors were encouraged to be thoughtful and respectful.[6]
Reception
editThe Listserve received significant media attention shortly after its launch. It was praised for its simplicity and the unique way it facilitated personal communication, counter to the popular social media platforms of the era. Publications such as The New York Times, Time, The Wall Street Journal, and The Observer covered The Listserve, highlighting the diverse range of content that subscribers shared. One Listserve winner used her email to invite the email list to a picnic in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, which led to a gathering of several dozen people on August 26, 2012.[7]
Critics, however, pointed out that the platform's unmoderated nature could lead to the spread of misinformation or offensive content.[1] Despite these concerns, the platform maintained a positive reputation throughout its operation.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "The Listserve: What Would You Say If You Had a Platform to Speak to Thousands?". The Observer. April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ Chen, Brian X. (May 15, 2012). "An Email Lottery". The New York Times. ProQuest 2215882173. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "The Listserve: An Experiment in Community". WNYC. May 14, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Luck of The Listserve". The New Inquiry. November 12, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "Thank you and goodbye". The Listserve Archive. May 19, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "The Listserve: What Would You Say to a Million People?". Time. May 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "Via Email, a Chance to Meet". The Wall Street Journal. July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2024.