Digg, the Web 2.0-era link aggregator that’s now being given a second chance at life, is open to buying Mozilla’s read-it-later app, Pocket. Mozilla announced it would shut down Pocket on July 8, citing the evolving web usage patterns and the need to focus on new areas of development. Kevin Rose, Digg’s original owner and now co-founder of the new Digg with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, expressed interest in acquiring Pocket from Mozilla in an X post. Tagging both Mozilla and Pocket, Rose stated, “we love Pocket at @Digg, happy to take it over and continue to support your users for years to come!” The post also tagged Betaworks founding partner Peter Rojas, previously the founder of Gizmodo and Engadget, now SVP New Products at Mozilla.
Digg and Mozilla have not yet responded to requests for comment on the potential acquisition. If the deal goes through, Digg could leverage Pocket’s existing user base to drive interest in its relaunch. The integration of Pocket’s reading list with Digg could streamline the process of finding and sharing engaging content directly on the news aggregator platform. This move could establish a pipeline for delivering news and articles to Digg while expanding its user base. Digg’s resurgence has captured attention as it brings together the platform’s original founder, Rose, and Ohanian, a key figure in Reddit’s success. The addition of Christian Selig, the founder of the popular Reddit app Apollo, as an adviser further enhances Digg’s team. Selig’s Apollo app faced challenges when Reddit raised its API pricing, prompting him to seek other opportunities.
Medium CEO Tony Stubbleine also expressed interest in acquiring Pocket in 2023 but did not receive a response from Mozilla before the app’s shutdown announcement. Stubbleine criticized Mozilla’s handling of the situation, stating, “Not sure what Mozilla is doing, but it is kind of infuriating.” He acknowledged the feasibility of rebuilding the Pocket software but highlighted the challenges associated with replacing its infrastructure and web integrations. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Pocket’s future, Stubbleine believed that another entity would step in to maintain the app. The article incorporates a comment from Stubbleine following its initial publication.
Sarah, a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011, brings a wealth of experience to her role. With over three years at ReadWriteWeb and a background in I.T. spanning various industries, including banking, retail, and software, Sarah offers a unique perspective on the tech industry.
