Why I Am Not Leaving Substack

The Age of Digital Literacy for The Left

Photo by Berke Citak on Unsplash

It recently came to my attention that Substack has struck a deal with Polymarket, an online gambling platform. The blatant monetization of user data and the introduction of another addictive feature into a writing platform is frustrating, to say the least. But are we really shocked? Big Tech behaving like Big Tech is hardly breaking news.

I came across an article from a prominent online leftist explaining why they planned to leave the platform. Their main argument seemed to be that social media should not be so profit-driven, and because Substack is clearly moving further in that direction, it should be abandoned.

But when I checked their social media links, they were active on Instagram and Twitter. Are those platforms not profit-driven? Has Meta not sold user data, cooperated with governments, and covered up internal harms? Twitter, now owned by a billionaire openly sympathetic to fascism (who is an outright fascist himself), arguably presents an even worse case. These platforms don’t just pursue profit; they actively shape public discourse in ways that reinforce imperial power and corporate control.

This isn’t to excuse Big Tech. Their surveillance practices, algorithmic manipulation, and monopolistic behavior absolutely deserve criticism. But from a Marxist perspective, none of this should be surprising. The capitalist class acts to protect and expand its interests. Owning media platforms is a logical extension of that. They have the capital, the infrastructure, and the networks to control what we read, watch, and discuss.

So the real question isn’t why these platforms behave this way. The real question is: what are we actually trying to accomplish by using them?

The purpose of being on social media, whether it’s Substack, TikTok, Instagram, or anywhere else, is not to “liberate” the platform itself. These platforms are owned by capital and will continue to serve capital. The purpose of being there is to communicate ideas, spread information, and help develop political/class consciousness. Like it or not, this is where people are. If we want to engage the public, we have to meet them where they already gather.

Personally, I’ve received important updates on Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Sudan, and other global struggles through Substack. I’ve seen organizing calls circulate through Twitter and Bluesky. I’ve even picked up useful left-wing memes and ideas on Instagram. These platforms are flawed, often deeply so, but they also function as distribution networks and distribution matters. A well-written post on a corporate platform can reach more people in a day than a pamphlet could in a month.

That doesn’t mean we should be naive. It means we should be strategic.

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So, What Should a Left Social Media Strategy Look Like?

Speaking as someone who once seriously studied digital marketing in my early 20s, the left needs to take information distribution seriously. Good ideas alone do not spread themselves. Platforms reward consistency, networks, and visibility, not just correctness.

1. Maintain Multiple Accounts

Political repression online is real. Left-wing pages are shadowbanned, demonetized, or removed all the time. Relying on a single large account is risky. A decentralized approach with multiple accounts, multiple contributors, and cross-posting makes it harder for platforms to shut down circulation entirely. Think of it as redundancy, like how movements historically used multiple newspapers and local chapters.

2. Share and Amplify Relevant Information

Algorithms reward engagement. Sharing posts from other left-wing accounts helps circulate their ideas beyond their immediate audience. Commenting responsibly, reposting, and linking content helps push it into wider feeds. This isn’t just about visibility; it’s about building an ecosystem where information flows across networks rather than staying isolated in small bubbles.

3. Treat Email as Infrastructure

This is where Substack still shines. An email list is portable. If Substack collapses, bans your account, or becomes unusable, your audience doesn’t disappear; you can take that list somewhere else. Email is one of the few digital tools that still offers direct communication with your community without algorithmic interference. That alone makes it valuable.

4. Take Digital Security Seriously

We know platforms share data with governments and corporations. That means being mindful about security matters. Using VPNs, secure browsers, encrypted messaging apps, and strong account protections isn’t paranoia—it’s basic digital hygiene. Movements throughout history have always had to think about surveillance; the online era is no different.

5. Build Depth on One Platform, Reach on Others

Not every platform serves the same function. Some are better for long-form analysis (Substack, blogs, newsletters), while others are better for reach (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok). Instead of expecting one platform to do everything, the left should think in terms of funnels. A short post, meme, or thread draws attention; a newsletter or essay provides depth. The goal is not to win arguments in comment sections, it’s to move people toward deeper engagement over time.

6. Be Consistent, Not Constant

One trap many creators fall into is chasing the algorithm by posting nonstop. But consistency matters more than volume. Regular posting builds trust and familiarity, while burnout helps no one. A sustainable rhythm of weekly essays, periodic updates, and selective engagement often works better than trying to dominate feeds daily.

7. Connect Online Work to Real-World Networks

Social media should not exist in isolation from organizing, study groups, unions, or community work. The strongest digital presence reflects real relationships offline. Posts about strikes, mutual aid efforts, or community struggles tend to resonate more than abstract theory because they connect ideas to lived reality. Online platforms should amplify real movements, not replace them.

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Leaving platforms in protest may feel principled, but it can also mean abandoning a space where millions of people are actively consuming information. I’m not here because Substack is ethical. I’m here because it’s useful. Until we build independent infrastructures strong enough to replace these platforms, abandoning them outright risks isolating ourselves rather than advancing our ideas.

History shows that movements rarely grow by retreating into smaller and purer spaces. They grow by engaging the terrain that actually exists. Right now, that terrain is corporate media ecosystems. These platforms shape how people learn about the world, where they encounter political ideas, and how narratives spread. Walking away from them doesn’t weaken corporate power; it often just removes dissenting voices from the conversation, leaving the space even more dominated by reactionary or apolitical content.

The goal isn’t to pretend these platforms are neutral. The goal is to use them with clear eyes and a strategic mindset. If the ruling class controls the megaphones, the left doesn’t win by walking away from the stage; we win by learning how to speak loudly enough that people hear us anyway.

That means treating these platforms less like homes and more like tools. You don’t need to totally trust a tool to use it. You don’t need to believe in a platform’s ethics to understand its reach. What matters is whether it allows us to communicate, connect people, circulate analysis, and help others make sense of what they’re experiencing. As long as millions of ordinary people are scrolling, reading, and sharing, there’s value in being present where those conversations are happening.

At the same time, being strategic also means being realistic about limits. No platform is permanent. Accounts get banned, algorithms change, audiences shift. That’s why the real long-term work is building networks that can outlive any single platform—email lists, cross-platform communities, real-world relationships, and independent archives. The platform is just the delivery system; the relationships and ideas are the real infrastructure.

If the left waits for perfect, ethical platforms before communicating, we’ll be waiting forever. In the meantime, the right will keep organizing, spreading narratives, and shaping public perception on the tools that exist. I’d rather use imperfect tools consciously than surrender the terrain entirely.