At a Glance
- Digg, the early-2000s news forum, is back as an open beta for web and mobile
- Original founder Kevin Rose and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian now own the platform
- Verified accounts will use new tech to prove users are real people, not bots
- Why it matters: The revived site aims to offer a cleaner, human-moderated alternative to AI-filled social feeds
Digg, the pioneering news-sharing site that predated Reddit, returned Wednesday with an open beta release available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The platform, which let users vote stories up or down in its first incarnation, now offers a website and mobile app where people can read, create, and comment on posts as well as join communities.
What’s New in the 2025 Version
The core mechanic remains familiar: instead of Reddit’s upvotes, Digg users “dig” content they like. Beyond that, ownership has changed hands. Original Digg founder Kevin Rose and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian have acquired the brand and are steering its reboot.
CEO Justin Mezzell addressed users in a Digg post on launch day:
“The Digg Public Beta is rolling out and will be available to everyone everywhere shortly. That doesn’t mean Digg is ‘done.’ It means we’re ready to grow in the open. To test features, listen closely, and evolve the product alongside the people using it. We’re just getting started, and you know the drill: things will change, feedback will shape direction, and Digg will keep getting better.”
Tackling Bots and AI Spam
As generative AI floods larger platforms with synthetic comments and fake personas, Digg is experimenting with verification tech. Rose told TechCrunch the team will test “various technologies to ensure that anyone verified on the app is a legitimate person with a genuine reason for verification.” Details of the verification process have not been disclosed, but the goal is to keep bots and spam accounts out of promoted feeds.
Key Features at Launch
- Cross-platform access: Native iOS and Android apps plus a responsive web version
- Community boards: Users can create or join topic-specific communities
- Digging system: One-tap approval replaces the upvote, keeping the original branding
- Real-time feedback loop: Mezzell emphasized that user feedback will directly influence upcoming feature rollouts
A Brief History of Digg
Digg debuted in 2004 as a tech-focused link-sharing site. Its front page was once a traffic kingmaker, but management missteps and competition from Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook eroded its user base. Betaworks acquired Digg’s remaining assets in 2012 and later sold the brand. Rose and Ohanian’s new venture revives the name under different ownership while keeping the nostalgic “dig” terminology.
What Happens Next
The open beta phase will let the team monitor server load, gather bug reports, and refine community guidelines. Mezzell’s post signaled that rapid iteration is planned:
“We’re just getting started, and you know the drill: things will change, feedback will shape direction, and Digg will keep getting better.”
No timeline for a full commercial release was provided. Users can join the beta immediately through the app stores or the main website.
