According to The Verge, Patreon is introducing a suite of new features that make the platform feel more like traditional social media. The most notable addition is “Quips” – essentially tweets consisting of small text, photo, or video posts that are public by default and open for anyone to comment on. The platform is also adding creator collaboration tools that let multiple creators share posts with both their audiences, plus enhanced recommendation systems that suggest creators when there’s audience overlap. Patreon is opening a waitlist on Monday for creators to request early access to these features, with future tests planned for features like a “not interested” button and creator @ mentions.
The platform pivot dilemma
Here’s the thing that fascinates me about this move. Patreon built its entire brand on being the anti-social-media platform – the place where creators could have direct relationships with paying fans without algorithm interference. Now they’re adding… algorithms and public content? It feels like every platform eventually succumbs to the same temptations.
And honestly, I get it. Creators want growth, and growth requires discovery. The old Patreon model was basically “bring your own audience” – which works great if you already have one. But what about emerging creators? They need ways to get discovered, and public-facing content like Quips could actually help with that.
Capitalizing on Substack’s struggles
The timing here is pretty strategic. Patreon has been poaching high-profile writers from Substack recently, including Anne Helen Petersen of the popular Culture Study newsletter. There’s been this mini-exodus happening from Substack for various reasons – lack of tech support, their pivot to social features with Notes, and of course the ongoing controversy about neo-Nazi content on their platform.
Basically, Substack strayed from its newsletter-first promise, and Patreon sees an opening. But now Patreon is doing its own version of straying from core principles. It’s like watching two platforms slowly converge toward the same middle ground.
The algorithm tightrope
What really matters here is how Patreon handles recommendations. The company says fans will have the option to view content only from creators they follow – which is crucial. But we all know how these things go. First it’s an option, then it becomes harder to find, then suddenly you’re fighting an algorithm just to see the creators you actually pay for.
Look, discovery features aren’t inherently bad. But when your entire value proposition was “no algorithms between you and your fans,” introducing them feels like a betrayal. Can Patreon actually pull off this balancing act where they help creators grow without turning into just another social media platform that creators have to “game”? I’m skeptical, but hopeful.
The truth is, the creator platform space is getting increasingly competitive, and everyone’s looking for that magic formula that combines sustainable revenue with audience growth. Patreon’s bet seems to be that they can have it both ways – maintain the direct creator-fan relationships while adding just enough social discovery to help creators expand. We’ll see if users actually want that combination, or if they preferred the old, simpler Patreon.
