Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
@benjaminwaldman.bsky.social
Designing for growth with social impact. Founder at Gander Social and The Art Department. Currently exploring smaller [big] tech alternatives for the greater good. And my own.
Maybe the most important site on the internet RN. Everyone should read this given the major tech decisions that are being made both in the EU and Canada.
This is why we have to make wise choices and choose true digital sovereignty over the same old tech in disguise.
authoritarian-stack.info
This is why we have to make wise choices and choose true digital sovereignty over the same old tech in disguise.
authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
authoritarian-stack.info
November 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Maybe the most important site on the internet RN. Everyone should read this given the major tech decisions that are being made both in the EU and Canada.
This is why we have to make wise choices and choose true digital sovereignty over the same old tech in disguise.
authoritarian-stack.info
This is why we have to make wise choices and choose true digital sovereignty over the same old tech in disguise.
authoritarian-stack.info
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
Hear from Jennifer, our COO, about crying through Come From Away (as you do), finding kinship in Canada and why she joined the Gander team.
#GetToKnowGander #HinterlandWhosWho
#GetToKnowGander #HinterlandWhosWho
June 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Hear from Jennifer, our COO, about crying through Come From Away (as you do), finding kinship in Canada and why she joined the Gander team.
#GetToKnowGander #HinterlandWhosWho
#GetToKnowGander #HinterlandWhosWho
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
Nice way to wake up today. Thanks @nadrescher.bsky.social @thelogic.co for the article.
It’s paywalled (but free with a trial). Happy to answer questions.
Thanks @bmann.ca @blaine.bsky.social @walkah.social @bad-example.com for the support!
thelogic.co/news/gander-...
It’s paywalled (but free with a trial). Happy to answer questions.
Thanks @bmann.ca @blaine.bsky.social @walkah.social @bad-example.com for the support!
thelogic.co/news/gander-...
Canada is building its own social network - The Logic
Gander Social aims to be a social network where users, not algorithms, set the tone—and where content moderation is based on Canadian laws.
thelogic.co
May 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Nice way to wake up today. Thanks @nadrescher.bsky.social @thelogic.co for the article.
It’s paywalled (but free with a trial). Happy to answer questions.
Thanks @bmann.ca @blaine.bsky.social @walkah.social @bad-example.com for the support!
thelogic.co/news/gander-...
It’s paywalled (but free with a trial). Happy to answer questions.
Thanks @bmann.ca @blaine.bsky.social @walkah.social @bad-example.com for the support!
thelogic.co/news/gander-...
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
Crazy week(s), but things are really coming together for Gander. We’re on our way to releasing a high-level, digestible roadmap (more depth to come), along with team bios and more. @bmann.ca has been a HUGE help. Can’t thank him enough.
May 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Crazy week(s), but things are really coming together for Gander. We’re on our way to releasing a high-level, digestible roadmap (more depth to come), along with team bios and more. @bmann.ca has been a HUGE help. Can’t thank him enough.
They said “Don’t read the comments.” I said “Hold my maple syrup” — and started building a platform where you actually can. 🇨🇦
I’m proud to finally share Gander — built on Bluesky's AT Protocol to deliver a new kind of social for Canadians.
✈️ Early Access open now → gandersocial.ca
I’m proud to finally share Gander — built on Bluesky's AT Protocol to deliver a new kind of social for Canadians.
✈️ Early Access open now → gandersocial.ca
Gander: The Social Media You Want, Built for Canada
Fun, private, and ethical. We're changing the way social media is done around here, all without your data taking an unexpected trip south.
gandersocial.ca
April 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
They said “Don’t read the comments.” I said “Hold my maple syrup” — and started building a platform where you actually can. 🇨🇦
I’m proud to finally share Gander — built on Bluesky's AT Protocol to deliver a new kind of social for Canadians.
✈️ Early Access open now → gandersocial.ca
I’m proud to finally share Gander — built on Bluesky's AT Protocol to deliver a new kind of social for Canadians.
✈️ Early Access open now → gandersocial.ca
Seems like an appropriate time for new music from Consolidated.
February 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Seems like an appropriate time for new music from Consolidated.
Just heard about a petition to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian Citizenship. I’ll just leave this here.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
Petition e-5353 - Petitions
www.ourcommons.ca
February 22, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Just heard about a petition to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian Citizenship. I’ll just leave this here.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
Real question: does X have a place in Canada? Do we as a country believe that a platform run for hate and misinformation have a place here?
February 22, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Real question: does X have a place in Canada? Do we as a country believe that a platform run for hate and misinformation have a place here?
Trying to understand the “Great Again” part of MAGA. When was this period that that people are so fond of when America was broken down by an Oligarchy while it attacked its citizens and allies?
February 22, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Trying to understand the “Great Again” part of MAGA. When was this period that that people are so fond of when America was broken down by an Oligarchy while it attacked its citizens and allies?
Has anybody else noticed Claude AI responding with the same confidence as a mediocre white man?
February 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Has anybody else noticed Claude AI responding with the same confidence as a mediocre white man?
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
Not an expert, but from what I’ve seen, you’re looking for “Product of Canada” when you shop, which is 98% Canadian. “Made in Canada” just means that it’s 51% Canadian.
February 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Not an expert, but from what I’ve seen, you’re looking for “Product of Canada” when you shop, which is 98% Canadian. “Made in Canada” just means that it’s 51% Canadian.
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
"To me it’s clear the company’s ethos has changed from those days of open innovation."
Zuckerberg has shown us who he really is. Believe him
I helped create one of Facebook’s diversity programs. Now I think users should boycott the company.
bit.ly
January 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
"To me it’s clear the company’s ethos has changed from those days of open innovation."
Reminiscing about a time when things were more fergalicious.
January 31, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Reminiscing about a time when things were more fergalicious.
Reposted by Ben Waldman 🇨🇦
Psst. I made a thing.
Tired of the vote split in Ontario and all of Canada? Let’s change that.
Announcing www.smartvoting.ca! A one stop tool for you too see your riding and who to vote for to make it not Conservative anymore.
Updated daily! Follow us at @smartvoting.ca as well.
Tired of the vote split in Ontario and all of Canada? Let’s change that.
Announcing www.smartvoting.ca! A one stop tool for you too see your riding and who to vote for to make it not Conservative anymore.
Updated daily! Follow us at @smartvoting.ca as well.
Ending The Vote Split. One Riding At A Time
SmartVoting.ca is a one stop tool voters in Canada can use to see who is the best party to vote for in their riding to prevent a Conservative win.
www.smartvoting.ca
January 30, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Psst. I made a thing.
Tired of the vote split in Ontario and all of Canada? Let’s change that.
Announcing www.smartvoting.ca! A one stop tool for you too see your riding and who to vote for to make it not Conservative anymore.
Updated daily! Follow us at @smartvoting.ca as well.
Tired of the vote split in Ontario and all of Canada? Let’s change that.
Announcing www.smartvoting.ca! A one stop tool for you too see your riding and who to vote for to make it not Conservative anymore.
Updated daily! Follow us at @smartvoting.ca as well.
Help prevent vote splitting in Ontario, and with any luck prevent a conservative win. smartvoting.ca
Ending The Vote Split. One Riding At A Time
SmartVoting.ca is a one stop tool voters in Canada can use to see who is the best party to vote for in their riding to prevent a Conservative win.
smartvoting.ca
January 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Help prevent vote splitting in Ontario, and with any luck prevent a conservative win. smartvoting.ca
Interesting. Came across something called Skiff.com that was acquired by Notion. My poor brain has a hard time with Notion, but it may be a viable option for office tools if they’re taking security and privacy seriously. More research needed.
Skiff - Private, encrypted, secure email - 10 GB free
Skiff Mail privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted product home, with Mail, Calendar, Pages, and Drive overview.
Skiff.com
January 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Interesting. Came across something called Skiff.com that was acquired by Notion. My poor brain has a hard time with Notion, but it may be a viable option for office tools if they’re taking security and privacy seriously. More research needed.
Nnnnext… email and Worspace-like tools. Proton offers private, encrypted email as well as a cloud drive and calendar. And it seems their drive has a docs editor. Having said that, I would love to find more office tools. The hunt is on. In the meantime, setting up Proton.me to take it for a spin.
Proton: Privacy by default
Over 100 million people use Proton to stay private and secure online. Get a free Proton account and take back your privacy.
Proton.me
January 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Nnnnext… email and Worspace-like tools. Proton offers private, encrypted email as well as a cloud drive and calendar. And it seems their drive has a docs editor. Having said that, I would love to find more office tools. The hunt is on. In the meantime, setting up Proton.me to take it for a spin.
On a quest for alternatives to the [biggest] tech, and making some choices about who gets my data and money. Going to be a long process, but right now testing out the Brave browser which promises more privacy fewer ads/trackers. Opinions if you’ve got ‘em! Brave.com
The browser that puts you first | Brave
The Brave browser is a fast, private and secure web browser for PC, Mac and mobile. Download now to enjoy a faster ad-free browsing experience that saves data and battery life by blocking tracking sof...
Brave.com
January 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
On a quest for alternatives to the [biggest] tech, and making some choices about who gets my data and money. Going to be a long process, but right now testing out the Brave browser which promises more privacy fewer ads/trackers. Opinions if you’ve got ‘em! Brave.com
I’ve heard of this happening but this is the first time I’m experiencing it. From home, I selected a destination in Uber, and got back $29, which was nuts. Noticed I was on cellular data. Switched to wifi, restarted the App and blam! $16. Disgusting.
January 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I’ve heard of this happening but this is the first time I’m experiencing it. From home, I selected a destination in Uber, and got back $29, which was nuts. Noticed I was on cellular data. Switched to wifi, restarted the App and blam! $16. Disgusting.