Cozy web

The cozy web is the name for the areas of the social internet that are gated in some way. You might need an invitation link or even a full-blown application to visit. These spaces allow you to interact with others in a way that offers respite from the darker sides of the “wider public”, whether that’s ad trackers, trolls, bots, or people who know you in real life. It was originally coined by Venkatesh Rao.

Examples

  • Slack communities
  • Discord servers
  • Whatsapp groups

Non-examples

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Reddit

Further reading

That second link includes the following illustration drawn by Maggie Appleton: