DEV Community: Barret Vogtman

The Internet is Not the Greatest Anymore

Barret Vogtman — Sun, 11 May 2025 16:37:27 +0000

I didn’t start this to build a startup.

I started because I needed something I couldn’t find anymore — a place online that didn’t make me feel hollow.

This quote has stuck with me for over a decade. It’s what pushed me forward. And it’s what gave birth to The Kindred.

“We stood up for what was right! We fought for moral reasons, we passed laws and struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed. We cared about our neighbors. We put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world's greatest artists and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars. Acted like men. We aspired to intelligence; we didn't belittle it; it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn't, we didn’t scare so easy. We were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed, by great men. Men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one—America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.”

— Will McAvoy, The Newsroom (S1E1)

When I started building what would become The Kindred, I wasn’t trying to start a company.

I was just trying to create something that didn’t make me feel worse every time I used it.

Most social platforms today aren’t broken by accident — they’re designed that way.

They reward outrage. They flatten nuance.

They turn every disagreement into an engagement opportunity — and the more disrespectful, the better.

And if you want something different — something honest, human, respectful — you’re left wondering if maybe the internet just doesn’t work like that anymore.

But I don’t buy that.

We used to build things that meant something.

We used to care about what was right — not just what would trend.

We disagreed — sometimes passionately — but we still listened, and we didn’t turn every conversation into a war for clicks.

I miss that.

And I think we need it back.

That’s what I’m trying to create with The Kindred.

It started with KindredCircl — a platform for real reflection and honest connection.

It will grow into more: real-time conversations, open public discussion, maybe even a new kind of commons.

Not because I want to disrupt anything.

But because I want one place online that doesn’t feel like it’s lying to me.

A place where:

Privacy isn’t treated like a luxury
Respect is a baseline, not a bonus
And disagreement doesn’t mean disrespect

I’m building this because I still believe we can be better than what we’ve settled for.

If you believe that too, then maybe you’re part of The Kindred already.

Thanks for reading.

We’re just getting started.

— Barret Vogtman

Founder, The Kindred

Trying to Build in Public — But Reddit Keeps Silencing Me

Barret Vogtman — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:58:52 +0000

So this week, I tried to share what I’m building on Reddit.

Two posts.

Two different subreddits.

Both were removed instantly by Reddit’s filters. No explanation. No mod feedback. Just gone.

What were the posts about?

I’m building a solo project called KindredCircl — a social platform focused on belonging, privacy, and connection. No ads. No rage-bait. No surveillance.

Both posts were written thoughtfully. No spam. No “buy this.” Just honesty, tech stack, and a link to a longer write-up on Dev.to.

But apparently, Reddit’s automation saw all that and said: nope.

Why It Hit Hard

Reddit is supposed to be where indie hackers hang out.

Where devs build in public.

Where creators share early work and get support.

But what I’m realizing is: if your post doesn’t match the format the filter expects, or if you use certain words (like support, link, or solo founder), you might just get silenced.

Not because of what you said — but because a bot decided you were promotional by default.

This Isn’t a Rage Post — It’s a Reality Check

I’m still building. I’m still sharing. But I’m reminded how important it is to build spaces where authentic effort isn’t treated like spam.

KindredCircl is meant to be one of those spaces. And yes — it still exists, even if Reddit didn’t want to hear about it this week.

If you’ve had posts removed without explanation, or felt like you’re shouting into the void, I’d love to hear your story too.

Let’s be loud for each other — since these platforms clearly won’t do it for us.

Building Something That Matters… When No One’s Watching

Barret Vogtman — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:21:09 +0000

I've been building KindredCircl — a social platform focused on belonging, safety, and privacy — for months now.

No ads. No rage algorithms. No surveillance. Just a place for people to connect and be seen.

And for most of that time? I’ve been building it alone. In silence.

What They Don’t Tell You About Building in Public

“Build in public!” they say.

“Show your process. Share your wins.”

But no one talks about what it feels like to post, write, share — and get nothing back.

No likes. No followers. No traction. Just… quiet.

If you’re in that space right now — I see you.

What’s Kept Me Going

It’s not hype.

It’s not followers.

It’s not funding.

It’s the idea that someone out there needs what I’m building.

Even if they don’t know it yet.

Even if I never meet them.

Even if no one claps.

I’m building KindredCircl because the internet should feel human again. Because safe spaces shouldn’t be an afterthought. Because I still believe in what connection could look like — if we actually tried.

To Anyone Else Building in the Quiet

Keep going.

You don’t need to be loud to be real.

You don’t need to be followed to be valid.

You just need to believe that some things are worth finishing, even without applause.

If you’re building something like that — or just want to talk about what this process really feels like — drop a comment. Let’s not build alone.

I'm Tired of Toxic Social Media — So I'm Building My Own Platform Focused on Belonging

Barret Vogtman — Thu, 08 May 2025 18:14:14 +0000

Social media was supposed to bring us closer together.

But more and more, it feels like the opposite.

The constant outrage.

The algorithmic manipulation.

The hate, the harassment, the performative everything.

I’ve had enough.

💡 So I’m building something different.

It’s called KindredCircl — a social platform rooted in authentic connection, belonging, and safety.

No ads.
No data mining.
No engagement farming.
Just people, stories, and human connection.

We’re talking real posting, shared experiences, and a chance to connect with people who actually see you.

Not as metrics. Not as targets. As people.

🛠️ Tech Stack

Kotlin Multiplatform (Jetpack Compose, Kobweb)
Ktor backend (GraphQL, Firebase Auth, PostgreSQL)
Redis for caching + feed ranking
BERT + sentence embeddings (MPNet / e5-large) for feed + moderation
Everything Dockerized, deployed via GCP

Right now, it’s just me writing the code — solo.

This is 100% indie. No funding. No marketing team. Just the vision and the work.

🤝 Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this to find collaborators, supporters, and believers.

If this mission resonates with you — if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unseen on social media — I’d love for you to follow along, get involved, or just say hey.

You can support the project here (every bit helps):

👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/kindredcircl

Or just follow me here as I build this in public.

🧵 What’s Coming

At launch, KindredCircl will include:

Beacon posts (public conversation starters)
Reflections (private or kin-only journals)
A Kin system (close connection network with tiered limits)
Moderation tools (BERT-assisted + community reporting)
Tiered memberships (free + paid, no pay-to-be-seen nonsense)

I’m doing my best to keep it real, ethical, and human-centered — even if that takes longer.

If this kind of future sounds worth fighting for,

then yeah… I’m building it. For all of us.

Let’s make something better.

Together. 💛

I’d love to hear from you.
What would you want to see in a healthier, more human social platform?

Or if you’ve tried building something like this yourself — what helped you push through?

Drop your thoughts, ideas, or questions in the comments. I’m building this out in the open and would love to connect with others doing the same. 💛