Gander Social
@gandersocial.ca
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. Built on AT Proto.
https://gandersocial.ca
Fun, private, and ethical. We're changing the way social media is done around here, all without your data taking an unexpected trip south. Built on AT Proto.
https://gandersocial.ca
Hi everyone -- we’re experiencing an outage on Gander right now.
We're on it and will let you know as soon as we're back.
We're on it and will let you know as soon as we're back.
September 15, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Hi everyone -- we’re experiencing an outage on Gander right now.
We're on it and will let you know as soon as we're back.
We're on it and will let you know as soon as we're back.
Reposted by Gander Social
I’ve been spending a little more time on @gandersocial.ca .
The feed feels different. People tell stories. Founders answer questions. Bugs get called bugs. Chapman’s posts about ice cream.
I wrote about why that matters to me, and why digital sovereignty is more than where we park the servers.
The feed feels different. People tell stories. Founders answer questions. Bugs get called bugs. Chapman’s posts about ice cream.
I wrote about why that matters to me, and why digital sovereignty is more than where we park the servers.
A Canadian Social Network Is Not the Point
Taking a break from algorithmic sludge, and finding a small Canadian corner of the internet that still feels human (actual humans).
jasonbu.online
September 6, 2026 at 1:46 PM
I’ve been spending a little more time on @gandersocial.ca .
The feed feels different. People tell stories. Founders answer questions. Bugs get called bugs. Chapman’s posts about ice cream.
I wrote about why that matters to me, and why digital sovereignty is more than where we park the servers.
The feed feels different. People tell stories. Founders answer questions. Bugs get called bugs. Chapman’s posts about ice cream.
I wrote about why that matters to me, and why digital sovereignty is more than where we park the servers.
Reposted by Gander Social
Episode 11 of 49 Clicks featuring special guest Ben Waldman, co-founder and CEO of @gandersocial.ca , is now live! 🍁
youtu.be/8V6oaMo3lEQ?...
youtu.be/8V6oaMo3lEQ?...
49 Clicks Podcast Episode 11: Special Guest Ben Waldman - Gander
YouTube video by Bailey Colors
youtu.be
September 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Episode 11 of 49 Clicks featuring special guest Ben Waldman, co-founder and CEO of @gandersocial.ca , is now live! 🍁
youtu.be/8V6oaMo3lEQ?...
youtu.be/8V6oaMo3lEQ?...
We wrote this op-ed back when the whole Lake Ontario thing was popping off, which is like a million years ago on the gish gallop timeline.
Anyway, @vassb.bsky.social beat us to it with a brilliant piece in the Globe.
And since sunk cost fallacies are a thing:
gandersocial.ca/putting-cana...
Anyway, @vassb.bsky.social beat us to it with a brilliant piece in the Globe.
And since sunk cost fallacies are a thing:
gandersocial.ca/putting-cana...
Putting Canada’s Digital Sovereignty on the Map - Gander
We wrote this op-ed back when the whole lake thing was popping off and sent it around in hopes of getting it published. Vass Bednar beat us to the punch. And we’re glad she did. She wrote a brilliant ...
gandersocial.ca
September 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM
We wrote this op-ed back when the whole Lake Ontario thing was popping off, which is like a million years ago on the gish gallop timeline.
Anyway, @vassb.bsky.social beat us to it with a brilliant piece in the Globe.
And since sunk cost fallacies are a thing:
gandersocial.ca/putting-cana...
Anyway, @vassb.bsky.social beat us to it with a brilliant piece in the Globe.
And since sunk cost fallacies are a thing:
gandersocial.ca/putting-cana...
'Like all social media, these services will succeed only if there is sufficient uptake. If our institutions threw their weight around, it could hasten an exodus from platforms owned by Trump’s loyal servants and push Canadians toward more democratic online spaces.'
Preach, Justin.
Preach, Justin.
Quitting Twitter and Facebook has to become an imparative for Canada. (and, obviously, everyone else.) www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Gift link: www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Gift link: www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Justin Ling: It’s time Canada logged out of tech platforms owned by Donald Trump toadies
If our institutions acted, they could hasten the ongoing exodus from services peddled by allies of the Trump administration.
www.thestar.com
September 2, 2026 at 1:40 PM
'Like all social media, these services will succeed only if there is sufficient uptake. If our institutions threw their weight around, it could hasten an exodus from platforms owned by Trump’s loyal servants and push Canadians toward more democratic online spaces.'
Preach, Justin.
Preach, Justin.
Of course we’re proud to help Tod get his Moose Farts.
And we’re overjoyed to help our namesake and commemorate an extraordinary four days of human kindness.
And we’re overjoyed to help our namesake and commemorate an extraordinary four days of human kindness.
The road trip I’ve been keeping a secret from you — until now
The road trip I’ve been keeping a secret from you — until now
The road trip I’ve been keeping a secret from you — until now
📰 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥: newsletter.todmaffin.com
👕 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗛: shop.todmaffin.com
🎙️ 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧: mirrorfalls.com
☕ Help support my work: support.todmaffin.com
🔗 Follow me on social: links.todmaffin.com
✉️ Contact my team: contact.todmaffin.com
www.youtube.com
August 18, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Of course we’re proud to help Tod get his Moose Farts.
And we’re overjoyed to help our namesake and commemorate an extraordinary four days of human kindness.
And we’re overjoyed to help our namesake and commemorate an extraordinary four days of human kindness.
Thanks for having us, Michael. Appreciate you reading the privacy policy too.
We got into the fine details and all the nuance that goes into infrastructure, moderation, verification, privacy, and everything else that comes with the territory.
We got into the fine details and all the nuance that goes into infrastructure, moderation, verification, privacy, and everything else that comes with the territory.
Everyone talks about digital sovereignty but what does it actually take to build a sovereign social network? @gandersocial.ca is trying to do it with Canadian identity systems and data controls. CEO @benjaminwaldman.bsky.social joins the week's Law Bytes podcast.
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/the-...
www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/the-...
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network - Michael Geist
Sovereignty, whether digital sovereignty, data sovereignty, or AI sovereignty, has been the hot-button issue in Canada for months. Governments have shifted policies in hopes of addressing the issue,…
www.michaelgeist.ca
August 10, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Thanks for having us, Michael. Appreciate you reading the privacy policy too.
We got into the fine details and all the nuance that goes into infrastructure, moderation, verification, privacy, and everything else that comes with the territory.
We got into the fine details and all the nuance that goes into infrastructure, moderation, verification, privacy, and everything else that comes with the territory.
Not really into waiting until the harm is already done.
So then the question is: how do we keep kids safe online without just straight-up excluding them?
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-or...
So then the question is: how do we keep kids safe online without just straight-up excluding them?
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-or...
Meta Ordered to Pay $942 Million to Address Harm to Kids From Social Media
A New Mexico judge ordered the social-media giant to create a new $567 million fund in addition to paying $375 million in previously determined civil penalties.
www.wsj.com
August 7, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Not really into waiting until the harm is already done.
So then the question is: how do we keep kids safe online without just straight-up excluding them?
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-or...
So then the question is: how do we keep kids safe online without just straight-up excluding them?
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-or...
While we’ve been building Gander, people have asked us to make browsers, music players, phones, payment systems, app stores… basically 2/3rds of the internet.
We appreciate the confidence. Truly. But we’ve got our hands full.
The Canadian Shield Institute mapped out a day without American tech.
We appreciate the confidence. Truly. But we’ve got our hands full.
The Canadian Shield Institute mapped out a day without American tech.
A Day in the Life Without American Tech | Canadian Shield Institute
What would happen if overnight we suddenly lost all access to American tech? Nobody is saying that we’d ever wake up one morning and find all...
canadianshieldinstitute.ca
August 6, 2026 at 3:25 PM
While we’ve been building Gander, people have asked us to make browsers, music players, phones, payment systems, app stores… basically 2/3rds of the internet.
We appreciate the confidence. Truly. But we’ve got our hands full.
The Canadian Shield Institute mapped out a day without American tech.
We appreciate the confidence. Truly. But we’ve got our hands full.
The Canadian Shield Institute mapped out a day without American tech.
We published our very first Benefit Report.
It’s a look at what we’ve built, the impact we’re starting to see, and what we’re still figuring out. Plenty of that last part.
Have a read, and let us know if you have questions!
It’s a look at what we’ve built, the impact we’re starting to see, and what we’re still figuring out. Plenty of that last part.
Have a read, and let us know if you have questions!
Oh yeah. We just published our first Benefit Report.
Grab the Gander Social Benefit Report 2025-2026
gandersocial.ca
August 4, 2026 at 7:44 PM
We published our very first Benefit Report.
It’s a look at what we’ve built, the impact we’re starting to see, and what we’re still figuring out. Plenty of that last part.
Have a read, and let us know if you have questions!
It’s a look at what we’ve built, the impact we’re starting to see, and what we’re still figuring out. Plenty of that last part.
Have a read, and let us know if you have questions!
Thinking a lot about what "local" means online.
So much organizing (especially in smaller communities and neighbourhoods) happens on platforms that weren’t built with Canadian communities, privacy, or laws in mind.
What does "local" online look like to you... Belonging? Proximity? Geography?
So much organizing (especially in smaller communities and neighbourhoods) happens on platforms that weren’t built with Canadian communities, privacy, or laws in mind.
What does "local" online look like to you... Belonging? Proximity? Geography?
July 17, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Thinking a lot about what "local" means online.
So much organizing (especially in smaller communities and neighbourhoods) happens on platforms that weren’t built with Canadian communities, privacy, or laws in mind.
What does "local" online look like to you... Belonging? Proximity? Geography?
So much organizing (especially in smaller communities and neighbourhoods) happens on platforms that weren’t built with Canadian communities, privacy, or laws in mind.
What does "local" online look like to you... Belonging? Proximity? Geography?
Tiny. Nocturnal. Fond of peanut butter. One of the best PSAs of all time.
And a very good reminder... especially these days.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hJ...
And a very good reminder... especially these days.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hJ...
House Hippo
YouTube video by ccacanada
www.youtube.com
July 16, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Tiny. Nocturnal. Fond of peanut butter. One of the best PSAs of all time.
And a very good reminder... especially these days.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hJ...
And a very good reminder... especially these days.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hJ...
We’d ask you to sign up for Gander.
But honestly, we’d rather you didn’t.
It’s Canada Day.
Put away your phone.
Talk to your friends.
Get some fresh air.
Touch grass if you can. It's what we'll be doing.
Sign up for Gander tomorrow.
It’ll still be here when you get back.
But honestly, we’d rather you didn’t.
It’s Canada Day.
Put away your phone.
Talk to your friends.
Get some fresh air.
Touch grass if you can. It's what we'll be doing.
Sign up for Gander tomorrow.
It’ll still be here when you get back.
July 1, 2026 at 9:01 AM
We’d ask you to sign up for Gander.
But honestly, we’d rather you didn’t.
It’s Canada Day.
Put away your phone.
Talk to your friends.
Get some fresh air.
Touch grass if you can. It's what we'll be doing.
Sign up for Gander tomorrow.
It’ll still be here when you get back.
But honestly, we’d rather you didn’t.
It’s Canada Day.
Put away your phone.
Talk to your friends.
Get some fresh air.
Touch grass if you can. It's what we'll be doing.
Sign up for Gander tomorrow.
It’ll still be here when you get back.
On voit plein de nouveaux visages par ici.
Bienvenue 👋
Techniquement, on « lance » demain.
Mais vous pouvez très bien passer un peu d’avance, jeter un coup d’œil, goûter aux grignotines et vous trouver une bonne place où vous installer.
Trouvez-nous dans l’App Store ou sur Google Play.
Bienvenue 👋
Techniquement, on « lance » demain.
Mais vous pouvez très bien passer un peu d’avance, jeter un coup d’œil, goûter aux grignotines et vous trouver une bonne place où vous installer.
Trouvez-nous dans l’App Store ou sur Google Play.
June 30, 2026 at 9:10 PM
On voit plein de nouveaux visages par ici.
Bienvenue 👋
Techniquement, on « lance » demain.
Mais vous pouvez très bien passer un peu d’avance, jeter un coup d’œil, goûter aux grignotines et vous trouver une bonne place où vous installer.
Trouvez-nous dans l’App Store ou sur Google Play.
Bienvenue 👋
Techniquement, on « lance » demain.
Mais vous pouvez très bien passer un peu d’avance, jeter un coup d’œil, goûter aux grignotines et vous trouver une bonne place où vous installer.
Trouvez-nous dans l’App Store ou sur Google Play.
Seeing a bunch of fresh faces. Pleasure to meet you👋
Technically, we "launch" tomorrow. But you're more than welcome to come on by a bit early and check things out ahead of time, sample the snacks, and find a good spot to chill.
Find us on the App Store or Google Play.
Technically, we "launch" tomorrow. But you're more than welcome to come on by a bit early and check things out ahead of time, sample the snacks, and find a good spot to chill.
Find us on the App Store or Google Play.
June 30, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Seeing a bunch of fresh faces. Pleasure to meet you👋
Technically, we "launch" tomorrow. But you're more than welcome to come on by a bit early and check things out ahead of time, sample the snacks, and find a good spot to chill.
Find us on the App Store or Google Play.
Technically, we "launch" tomorrow. But you're more than welcome to come on by a bit early and check things out ahead of time, sample the snacks, and find a good spot to chill.
Find us on the App Store or Google Play.
Got some coverage in the Globe today ahead of our very official launch on Canada Day.
It’s a solid primer on what we’re up to: a Canadian social platform that can make you smile, where your data stays here, and where the community sets the tone.
Heads up: paywall.
It’s a solid primer on what we’re up to: a Canadian social platform that can make you smile, where your data stays here, and where the community sets the tone.
Heads up: paywall.
Canadian social-media platform Gander officially launches this week, promising data sovereignty
Born out of the country’s ‘elbows up’ movement, the app aims to evoke the old days of social media
www.theglobeandmail.com
June 29, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Got some coverage in the Globe today ahead of our very official launch on Canada Day.
It’s a solid primer on what we’re up to: a Canadian social platform that can make you smile, where your data stays here, and where the community sets the tone.
Heads up: paywall.
It’s a solid primer on what we’re up to: a Canadian social platform that can make you smile, where your data stays here, and where the community sets the tone.
Heads up: paywall.
Moderation is one of those things people don’t really notice when it’s working.
Some do. Usually when we remove a slur. That or politely ask them to leave when it's become a pattern of behaviour.
Read about our approach to moderation: context, nuance, exemptions:
gandersocial.ca/blog/peace-o...
Some do. Usually when we remove a slur. That or politely ask them to leave when it's become a pattern of behaviour.
Read about our approach to moderation: context, nuance, exemptions:
gandersocial.ca/blog/peace-o...
Peace, Order, and (Good) Platform Governance - Gander Social Blog
Moderation is one of those things people don’t really notice when it is working. Well. A few do. Usually when they start hurling slurs around and find out that their post got removed. Or if the accoun...
gandersocial.ca
June 25, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Moderation is one of those things people don’t really notice when it’s working.
Some do. Usually when we remove a slur. That or politely ask them to leave when it's become a pattern of behaviour.
Read about our approach to moderation: context, nuance, exemptions:
gandersocial.ca/blog/peace-o...
Some do. Usually when we remove a slur. That or politely ask them to leave when it's become a pattern of behaviour.
Read about our approach to moderation: context, nuance, exemptions:
gandersocial.ca/blog/peace-o...
We took some time to mull over the Safe Social Media Act aka C-34.
We’ve read the bill and policy materials, sat in on a technical briefing, read analysis, and talked to people smarter than us (as you do).
We have a few (early) thoughts.
Namely: C-34 is a major improvement over C-63.
We’ve read the bill and policy materials, sat in on a technical briefing, read analysis, and talked to people smarter than us (as you do).
We have a few (early) thoughts.
Namely: C-34 is a major improvement over C-63.
June 19, 2026 at 5:08 PM
We took some time to mull over the Safe Social Media Act aka C-34.
We’ve read the bill and policy materials, sat in on a technical briefing, read analysis, and talked to people smarter than us (as you do).
We have a few (early) thoughts.
Namely: C-34 is a major improvement over C-63.
We’ve read the bill and policy materials, sat in on a technical briefing, read analysis, and talked to people smarter than us (as you do).
We have a few (early) thoughts.
Namely: C-34 is a major improvement over C-63.
A serious one... because it's Monday.
Recent reporting has found foreign accounts pushing Alberta separatism in Canada.
People pretending to be local, stealing content, scamming Canadians, and warping political dialogue.
That should bother everyone. It for sure bothers us.
👇
Recent reporting has found foreign accounts pushing Alberta separatism in Canada.
People pretending to be local, stealing content, scamming Canadians, and warping political dialogue.
That should bother everyone. It for sure bothers us.
👇
June 8, 2026 at 5:20 PM
A serious one... because it's Monday.
Recent reporting has found foreign accounts pushing Alberta separatism in Canada.
People pretending to be local, stealing content, scamming Canadians, and warping political dialogue.
That should bother everyone. It for sure bothers us.
👇
Recent reporting has found foreign accounts pushing Alberta separatism in Canada.
People pretending to be local, stealing content, scamming Canadians, and warping political dialogue.
That should bother everyone. It for sure bothers us.
👇
Another section from our submission on the future of online safety legislation in Canada.
What's the minimum amount of information a platform actually needs to know in order to operate safely?
1/8
What's the minimum amount of information a platform actually needs to know in order to operate safely?
1/8
June 7, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Another section from our submission on the future of online safety legislation in Canada.
What's the minimum amount of information a platform actually needs to know in order to operate safely?
1/8
What's the minimum amount of information a platform actually needs to know in order to operate safely?
1/8
Continuing our discussion on online safety legislation in Canada... another one we've wrestled with:
How do you reduce bots, fraud, and impersonation without turning platforms into giant collectors of sensitive identity data?
How do you reduce bots, fraud, and impersonation without turning platforms into giant collectors of sensitive identity data?
June 5, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Continuing our discussion on online safety legislation in Canada... another one we've wrestled with:
How do you reduce bots, fraud, and impersonation without turning platforms into giant collectors of sensitive identity data?
How do you reduce bots, fraud, and impersonation without turning platforms into giant collectors of sensitive identity data?
Créer un meilleur réseau social, c’est aussi le rendre plus accessible.
Nous travaillons avec des membres de notre communauté qui utilisent des technologies d’assistance afin de rendre Gander plus accessible.
Envie d’aider? gandersocial.ca/acce...
#SemaineNationaleDeLaccessibilité
Nous travaillons avec des membres de notre communauté qui utilisent des technologies d’assistance afin de rendre Gander plus accessible.
Envie d’aider? gandersocial.ca/acce...
#SemaineNationaleDeLaccessibilité
June 3, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Créer un meilleur réseau social, c’est aussi le rendre plus accessible.
Nous travaillons avec des membres de notre communauté qui utilisent des technologies d’assistance afin de rendre Gander plus accessible.
Envie d’aider? gandersocial.ca/acce...
#SemaineNationaleDeLaccessibilité
Nous travaillons avec des membres de notre communauté qui utilisent des technologies d’assistance afin de rendre Gander plus accessible.
Envie d’aider? gandersocial.ca/acce...
#SemaineNationaleDeLaccessibilité
Building better social media also means making it more accessible.
We’re working with people in our community who use assistive technologies to help improve the Gander experience and make it more usable for all.
Interested in participating?
gandersocial.ca/blog...
#NationalAccessibilityWeek
We’re working with people in our community who use assistive technologies to help improve the Gander experience and make it more usable for all.
Interested in participating?
gandersocial.ca/blog...
#NationalAccessibilityWeek
June 3, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Building better social media also means making it more accessible.
We’re working with people in our community who use assistive technologies to help improve the Gander experience and make it more usable for all.
Interested in participating?
gandersocial.ca/blog...
#NationalAccessibilityWeek
We’re working with people in our community who use assistive technologies to help improve the Gander experience and make it more usable for all.
Interested in participating?
gandersocial.ca/blog...
#NationalAccessibilityWeek