Odysee is a blockchain-based media hosting platform hosted on the LBRY network.[1]
A beta version of Odysee went online in September 2020, formally launching in December 2020.[2] In February 2021, Eviane Leidig of the Global Network on Extremism and Technology described Odysee as "the new YouTube for the far-right."[3]
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) described Odysee as a "digital threat" in November 2023, because it "has little to no content moderation and provides a steady income stream for hate groups and extremists, including fugitives, some of whom are earning thousands of dollars each month peddling hateful or violent content on the site."[4]
In June 2024, Odysee was acquired by Forward Research.[5] Sam Williams, CEO of Forward Research, announced that Odysee would be built moving forward on the Arweave protocol.[6]
Odysee is partnered with the Independent Media Alliance (IMA).[7][8]
Name | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|
Julian Chandra | Founder, Creator, and Chief Executive Officer[9] | - |
What is Odysee? Odysee Help Hub. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://web.archive.org/web/20240827175415/https://help.odysee.tv/category-basics/whatisodysee/ ↩︎
Ha, A. (2020, December 7). Odysee aims to build a more independent video platform. TechCrunch. https://web.archive.org/web/20240827181159/https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/07/odysee-launch/ ↩︎
Leidig, E. (2021, February 17). Odysee: The New YouTube for the Far-Right. Global Network on Extremism and Technology. https://web.archive.org/web/20240827181451/https://gnet-research.org/2021/02/17/odysee-the-new-youtube-for-the-far-right ↩︎
Fernandez-Aubert, E.-J., Reinhart, R., & Squire, M. (2023, November 6). Digital Threat Report: Odysee. Southern Poverty Law Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20240716061321/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/11/06/digital-threat-report-odysee ↩︎
Gilbert, A. (2024, June 6). Arweave acquires crypto social media app Odysee: “We haven’t won until it replaces Twitter.” DL News. https://web.archive.org/web/20240819090434/https://www.dlnews.com/articles/web3/arweave-acquires-crypto-social-media-app-odysee-we-havent-won-until-it-replaces-twitter/ ↩︎
Watson, R. (2024, June 6). Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns. The Block. http://archive.today/2024.06.28-001522/https://www.theblock.co/post/298888/decentralized-youtube-alternative-odysee-acquired-by-forward-research-despite-content-concerns ↩︎
Cristián, R. (2024, September 16). Announcing the Independent Media Alliance. The Last American Vagabond. http://archive.today/2024.09.18-145800/https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/independent-media-alliance/ ↩︎
odysee [@OdyseeTeam]. (2024, September 16). “The future is in many platforms, not one. That’s why we’re building this for IMA.” [Post]. X (Formerly Twitter). http://archive.today/2024.09.28-174523/https://mobile.x.com/OdyseeTeam/status/1835824788620939598 ↩︎
Chandra, J. (2024, July 10). The Future of Odysee. Odysee. https://odysee.com/@Odysee:8/futureofodysee:e ↩︎