The web loves a good comeback—and Digg may be penning one of the best chapters to date. Close to two decades since Digg and Reddit first fought for supremacy in the social news category, Digg founder Kevin Rose and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian are teaming up to revive the once-iconic platform.
If you recall the dawn of Web 2.0, this alliance is just as surprising as it is thrilling.
Then, in the 2000s, Digg and Reddit were bitter competitors. While Reddit gradually became a cultural touchstone, topped by a historic IPO in 2024, Digg followed a more uneven trajectory. The company was dissolved in 2012, with chunks sold to Betaworks, LinkedIn, and The Washington Post. It later changed hands for Gannett and BuySellAds, but never regained its earlier pace.
Now, Rose and Ohanian are joining forces to revive Digg with a second life that they feel is perfectly suited for the internet of today.
Why Now?
Timing couldn’t be more opportune, says Rose. “The social media landscape today is toxic, messy, and infested with disinformation,” he says. But there’s one critical difference now from when Digg first existed: AI has changed.
AI-fueled moderation tools can now detect and mark dangerous content—hate speech, violence, and toxicity—in a matter of milliseconds. “That level of speed and precision was just not feasible five years ago,” observes Rose. It’s this technology change that makes a revival not only possible but also promising.
Ohanian echoes the sentiment. “Online communities thrive when there’s a balance between technology and human judgment,” he said in a recent statement. “We’re bringing Digg back to ensure that balance exists. AI should handle the grunt work so humans can focus on building real connections.”
A Modern Vision for Social News
This is not a nostalgia initiative. The new Digg will be dynamic, open-ended, and inherently distinct from legacy systems. Rose suggests that the new interface will provide a leap in experience akin to what Figma did for design, moving way from static forums towards more dynamic, interactive spaces.
“A year, year and a half from now,” he states, “when you visit Digg, it’s going to be like something completely different—something you’ve never seen before.”
Strategic Expansion: Enter Pocket?
Digg’s resurgence isn’t just about product redesign—it’s also about astute acquisitions. When Mozilla declared it was closing down Pocket, its widely popular read-it-later service, Rose moved swiftly on X: “We love Pocket at @Digg, happy to take it over and continue to support your users for years to come!”
If it works, the buy could provide a seamless method to bring reading lists directly onto Digg, enabling users to save, discover, and share more easily, potentially turbocharging day-one engagement.
The Reboot Team
Digg’s relaunch is supported by a heavyweight roster. Experienced product designer Justin Mezzell is CEO. Christian Selig—maker of Apollo, the popular Reddit app—is also counseling the endeavor. Ohanian is becoming chairperson and advisor, while Rose is joining the board. Both of their companies—True Ventures and Seven Seven Six—are offering early capital.
This isn’t a side project. It’s a serious attempt to build something meaningful in the social space.
Want In Early?
For those eager to be part of Digg’s next act, the team has launched a landing page for early sign-ups. Rose emphasizes a first-come, first-served approach to usernames and early access, promising a clean and respectful onboarding process. “We’re not spammers,” he says. “Just supply us with your email and we’ll inform you when it’s live. You’ll be able to claim a username, test it out, and tell us what you think. We’re listening—and making it right—quickly.”
A Long Road, But A Bold Vision
Nobody on the team is sugarcoating this being a cakewalk. Rose has said explicitly that creating something really different takes time, refinement, and a great deal of listening. With a solid vision, a high-quality team, and the advantage of looking back, Digg’s second act is turning out to be one of the most compelling comeback tales in technology.
For those who are fed up with the anarchy of contemporary social media—and miss when the web was more community than battle-scarred terrain—Digg is perhaps worth viewing again.
