Cohost, an aspiring contender aiming to challenge X, launched with much anticipation in June 2022 but is now set to shut down. In an announcement on the platform’s staff account, the company shared earlier this week that it will discontinue its services. Modeled closely after Twitter, Cohost allowed users to follow others, view posts in a feed, and engage with content through likes and reposts. What set Cohost apart, however, was its commitment to a chronological feed, support for long-form posts, and a business model that shunned advertising.
The premium subscription service, Cohost Plus, provided users with enhanced features such as increased file size limits for uploads, and it had plans to introduce creator tools like tipping and the ability to sell subscriptions.
Founded by the Anti Software Software Club, a not-for-profit organization led by Colin Bayer and Jae Kaplan, Cohost was ideologically driven with strong anti-capitalist and anti-Big Tech sentiments. Their manifesto critiqued the tech industry’s emphasis on market dominance and for-profit ventures, advocating instead for fair dealing and sustainable growth.
Despite its noble mission, Cohost struggled to carve out a niche in a crowded marketplace. The competition was fierce, not only from X (formerly Twitter) but also from Meta’s new platform, Threads. Decentralized social networks like Mastodon and Bluesky further complicated Cohost’s efforts to gain a foothold.
Ultimately, the service will shutter primarily due to “lack of funding and burnout,” with plans to wind down by the end of 2024. The company emphasized that none of its team members are currently drawing a salary, and all remaining funds are being allocated to cover operational expenses and server costs, ensuring a smooth transition as the service shuts down.
As of October 2, 2024, Cohost will switch to a read-only format. The team is committed to enhancing their data export system to help users save their content before the servers go offline at year-end. Control of Cohost’s source code will be handed over to the anonymous benefactor who funded most of their operations.
Financial struggles were no secret for Cohost, with updates since March detailing the precarious situation. By mid-March 2024, the platform had dwindled to 30,000 monthly active users and just over 2,600 subscribers. Facing a deficit of $17,000, the team realized that breaking even would require an additional 3,400 subscriptions—an unattainable goal. They even considered turning to advertising to stay afloat but to no avail.
As Cohost users and engineers migrate to other platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, they are reconnecting under the hashtag #cohost, sharing their experiences and memories from the platform.
Cohost’s closure marks another chapter in the tough landscape for social network startups aiming to rival established giants. Similar ventures like T2 and micropayments-focused Post have also folded in recent times, reflecting the challenging environment for new entrants in the social media space.
