You want to know what I think is completely backwards about community organizing today?
We're building communities on chat apps. And then we act surprised when they fail.
I mean, think about it: Would you run a conference using only text messages? Manage your nonprofit's member database in group chats? Store your organization's knowledge base in WhatsApp threads where everything disappears into history?
Of course not. That would be insane.
So why are we trying to build lasting communities on apps designed for "Hey, can you pick up milk?"
Here's the mismatch:
Chat apps are brilliant for: → Small group coordination (5-50 people max) → Linear, temporary messaging → Quick, disposable conversations → Private, ephemeral communication
Communities need: → Organized, topic-based discussions → Scalable spaces (hundreds to thousands) → Searchable, referenceable knowledge → Public, discoverable, lasting connections
I've watched incredible communities die not because people stopped caring, but because finding a conversation from last month felt like archaeology.
Here's the thing: The medium shapes the message. Always.
When you use tools designed for temporary chats to build permanent communities, you get communities that feel temporary and small.
And then we wonder why community organizing feels so exhausting.
What's your experience trying to scale beyond what chat apps can handle? 👇
