You Can’t Build Community While Restricting Conversation
Nextdoor recently shared that CEO #NiravTolia joined Auren Hoffman 📚 on the Summation podcast to discuss the future of local community—arguing that knowing your neighbors isn’t a throwback. Still, a powerful tool in a world craving authentic connection.
That vision sounds right.
But in practice, much of what’s happening on the platform works directly against it.
Suspensions.
Content removals.
Vague moderation standards.
Limited transparency.
And shrinking discussion—often without a clear explanation or accessible process.
It’s hard to encourage neighbors to get to know each other while simultaneously limiting who can speak and how often they can engage.
Acknowledging the Bullish Case (and the Transparency)
I want to acknowledge and thank Stephanie Goodman for engaging thoughtfully and transparently on my posts. Her comments reflect the optimistic thesis many are watching closely:
A shift away from passive scrolling toward high-intent local moments
- AI surfacing the right local information at the right time
- New features like Faves, local news integration, and real-time safety alerts
- Founders returning to fix what they originally built
- Strong financial performance: record Q4 revenue, positive adjusted EBITDA, $405M cash on hand, zero debt, and new board members with real operating credibility
That’s all real. And it matters. But execution isn’t just financial—it’s cultural. When Leadership Doesn’t Listen to the Crew. I’ve seen this pattern before, in professional and personal settings. A ship starts taking on water. The crew raises concerns. Outside voices are brought in to help right it. But the captain doesn’t listen. Reason is dismissed. Experience is viewed as disloyalty. Feedback is treated as treason.
At that point, it’s often too late to recover—not because the numbers weren’t there, but because listening stopped.
The Core Contradiction: Limiting Interaction
Yes—having zero debt and cash on hand is great.
Yes—posting the strongest quarter in company history is great.
But the thesis around limiting WAU (weekly active users) through suspensions and removals is deeply flawed.
Mark Cuban says it best: “Sales solves everything.” So how does a small business sell:
- If the audience they’re trying to reach is reduced?
- If conversations are cut short?
- If participation feels risky?
Nextdoor doesn’t have to be a platform for everyone. But it does have to be a platform that doesn’t artificially limit interaction. Because community isn’t built by algorithms alone, it’s built by people being allowed to talk, disagree, learn, and stay.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #CommunityBuilding #Transparency #CorporateGovernance #ProductStrategy #ShareholderPerspective #LocalBusiness #Trust #Engagement
