Gander Social to launch to public on Canada Day

The Canadian-made social media community will roll out nationwide after already tallying 18,000 beta customers.

Canadians may have a brand new place to publish Canada Day pictures this yr as Gander Social plans to roll out its platform nationwide on July 1.

The information: The Canadian-built social media community right this moment introduced plans to carry the platform out of beta testing on Canada Day. Backed by greater than 2,500 largely grassroots buyers and with hundreds of present beta customers, Gander markets itself as a extra accountable social media community, verifying customers to make sure they’re human somewhat than bots, avoiding surveillance promoting and the sale of customers’ private knowledge, and storing that knowledge inside Canada.

From the supply: “Since Could, Gander has quietly grown right into a neighborhood of greater than 18,000 members. On Canada Day, we transfer to a full nationwide launch, inviting individuals throughout the nation to affix the dialog,” mentioned Ben Waldman, the founder and CEO of Gander, in a press launch.

Following the thread: Based by Waldman in 2025, Gander goals to be a sovereign, Canadian-made various to American social media platforms like Elon Musk’s X or Meta’s Fb. In an interview with the BetaKit podcast final November, the Gander CEO and founder cited US President Donald Trump’s threats of Canadian annexation, in addition to concern round American tech’s close to whole management over Canadian’s knowledge, as a part of the inspiration for Gander.

The platform has attracted funding within the tens of millions from crowd-funders, and counted early assist from high-profile Canadians Arlene Dickinson and Amber Mac, each of whom have since severed ties with the platform.

Remaining thought: Just lately, Canada introduced it will search to ban social media for customers underneath 16 years previous, following swimsuit with Australia, which enacted a ban in 2025. Whereas Gander’s platform could be lined underneath any such ban, the corporate has been actively positioning itself as a more healthy various to US-dominated social media. Gander already requires customers to confirm they’re over 18 to publish or chat with different customers. In its announcement, the corporate mentioned it needs to prioritize more healthy conversations and communities, and could be utilizing the Canadian Constitution of Rights and Freedoms to tell its moderation insurance policies.

BetaKit’s Prairies reporting is funded partially by YEGAF, a not-for-profit devoted to amplifying enterprise tales in Alberta.

Function picture courtesy of Gander Social.

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