This week I’m saying goodbye to an old network as App.net is shutting down.

I joined App.net back in 2012 with the promise of a social network with a different business model from Twitter. It was a service focused on benefiting developers and users who were willing to pay for a better experience rather than advertisers and data mining. Unfortunately that idea wasn’t enough and App.net couldn’t become a sustainable business. Rather than breaking their promise and becoming yet another advertising network they scaled back the service and ultimately had to close the doors.

As another social network fades into the background I’m taking some time to reflect on what I’ve gained rather than lost. I’ve met some amazing people on App.net and have been lucky enough to keep up with them as they’ve moved on to other places. I’ve also gained some useful development experience. For those reasons I’ll remember App.net with fond and happy memories rather than mourn it’s loss. As far as I am concerned, App.net was a success.