Digg, the well-known Web 2.0 link aggregator, might be getting a new lease on life as it shows interest in acquiring Mozilla’s Pocket, a popular read-it-later app that’s scheduled to shut down on July 8. Mozilla’s decision comes as they shift focus to new developments with changing web usage patterns.
Following the announcement, Kevin Rose, Digg’s original creator, now co-founder of the revamped Digg with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, expressed interest in Pocket. In a social media post, Rose reached out to Mozilla, suggesting that Digg would be keen to take over Pocket and support its users in the future. He also included Peter Rojas, a prominent figure in tech media and now a Senior Vice President at Mozilla.
While neither Digg nor Mozilla has officially commented on the possible acquisition, this move could prove beneficial for Digg. Integrating Pocket’s features could potentially reinvigorate Digg’s platform and enhance its offerings by allowing users to easily discover and share content via Pocket’s reading list.
Digg’s revival has already sparked discussions, especially with Rose teaming up with Ohanian. They’ve also enlisted Christian Selig, creator of the notable Reddit app Apollo, as an adviser. Selig’s involvement comes after Apollo had to cease operations due to Reddit’s increased API costs.
Interestingly, Digg isn’t the only player eyeing Pocket. Medium’s CEO, Tony Stubbleine, also considered acquiring Pocket but claims he never received a response from Mozilla before the app’s closure announcement. Stubbleine voiced frustration over Mozilla’s decision, noting that while the app software is replicable, its infrastructure and web integrations would pose greater challenges.
Overall, the acquisition remains a possibility that could redefine Digg’s path forward, offering a unique opportunity to tap into Pocket’s loyal user base and revamp its content-sharing capabilities.
