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Maven Is a New Social Network That Eliminates Followers—and Hopefully Stress


Twitter cofounder Ev Williams is backing a new social network called Maven, which trades likes and follows for algorithms designed to foster serendipity and deep discussion.

In 2015, Stanley and a collaborator, Joel Lehman, published a book called Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned that applies the philosophy to life outside the lab, encouraging people to seek serendipity in their everyday lives. Posts need to clear a certain bar for engagement—an example of what Stanley calls a “minimal-criterion mechanism” that he says also explains part of biological evolution and increases diversity—and then their probability of appearing is based on how closely they match a user’s interests. Williams says that although he could have offered advice on building social networks, “my guidance most of the time has just been to help them feel their way through.” Other investors include Rana el Kaliouby, CEO and cofounder of Affectiva, Alex Pall of the electronic music duo the Chainsmokers, and VC firm Lux Capital.

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