New_ Public
Project Title
For support of a project to build local digital platforms that promote democracy and inclusion
Date
Sep. 12, 2024
Duration
24 months
Description
With the decades long decline of local physical civic institutions and a global pandemic, American towns have turned to local digital forums as central information hubs. Depending on the leadership of these digital forums, they can either contribute to the decline of social trust by amplifying fears about crime and deepening divides or serve as engines of social trust. Founded in 2022, New_ Public strives to reimagine social media and build digital public spaces that connect people, promote civic engagement, and build community. Through its Local Lab, New_ Public provides technical support and skill building, and connects leaders to local digital public spaces throughout the United States. With Corporation support, New_ Public will build critical infrastructure for a civil society in the form of digital public spaces and support networks for the people who create and moderate these spaces.