Social Good: Lessons from 100+ Community Leaders
The Hidden Labor Powering Our Lives
Over the past year, I've engaged in conversations with more than 100 individuals who manage digital communities—ranging from PTA presidents and podcasters to yoga instructors and book club organizers. I asked about the digital platforms they utilize to manage their communities, and here's what I discovered:
Many rely on Facebook Groups but express concerns about data privacy and governmental access. Others juggle between Patreon and Discord, while some operate entirely on Signal or WhatsApp.
Regardless of their current platform(s), they all expressed the same sentiment: frustrated.
These leaders are performing critical emotional and logistical labor using tools not designed for community building. They're connecting individuals, holding space, fostering trust, and organizing events—all while navigating a fragmented array of apps, workarounds, and missing features.
Initially driven by curiosity, these conversations have left me determined to support these caretakers, because in this moment of deep social fracture, these people are where I find hope.
Everyone’s Cobbling Together a Workaround
The modern community toolkit is a patchwork:
Facebook Groups for free events
Eventbrite or Luma for paid events
Signal for private conversations
SignUpGenius for volunteering
Patreon for memberships
Shopify for goods
This disjointed setup leads to chaos. As one community leader shared:
“Half my time is spent just trying to find the last update I posted. The other half is answering the same questions I’ve already answered.”
That's not community building; it's digital triage.
"I Hate It… But I’m Stuck"
Despite frustrations, people remain on these platforms because their communities are there. The most common refrain I heard was:
“I hate it (Facebook/WhatsApp/Discord), but my [book club/mom group/podcast listeners/volunteer team] is there, so I can’t leave.”
It's not loyalty; it's inertia. And inertia is fragile.
Leaders Are Burned Out and Under-Resourced
Managing an online community has become a full-time job—often unpaid and emotionally taxing. These people are the glue holding communities together, yet they are unsupported from a technology standpoint. As Karina, who leads a 1500+ community on Slack, poignantly stated:
“I’m doing the work of a full-time community manager, but I’m not getting paid. I’m doing it because I care.”
This dedication, while admirable, is unsustainable.
The Scale of Digital Communities
The impact of these communities is vast. Approximately 1.8 billion people use Facebook Groups every month, with more than half of them being members of five or more active groups. This isn’t a niche need, these people are the operating system for humanity–they are what is keeping us together, and equipped with effective tooling they are our chance for a more united, collaborative future.
So… Now What?
The more I listen, the more I believe we are witnessing the decline of traditional social media. There's a significant, passionate movement of people who get that humanity is interconnected and they're seeking to gather online around shared purposes—not just "likes." But, they're hindered by tools that were designed for individual fame rather than the interdependence of real life.
If you're engaged in this work—whether running a fan group, a parent group, or a political action group—we see you. You're not alone. You deserve tools, business models, and support that don't require duct tape to hold together. We’re building that for you at Komyūn - stay tuned as we go live in the coming weeks!
We would also love to hear from you! Our conversations with community leaders and members are ongoing. Help us build a path forward that prioritizes you and your community. You can share your thoughts here (it’s a quick 5-minute survey)!
