Tethics & Chill [online]: Decentralizing Reputation in a Networked World

​Remember when your reputation depended on your closest neighbors—who whispered in marketplaces, gossiped in taverns, and passed judgment in back rooms? Centuries of printed word and broadcast culture later, we’re back to an era where reputation thrives (or dies) on the word of your network.

​Decentralized reputation is reshaping how we form networks and decide who deserves our attention, collaboration, and funding. But with fewer centralized gatekeepers telling us whom to trust, how do we navigate a landscape where reputation is simultaneously fluid and permanent?

​Join us on April 28 as we dive into the future of trust in the digital age. We'll unpack:

• ​How does networked society shift our understanding of trust and reputation?

• ​Can decentralized protocols overcome the chaos of unchecked gossip?

• ​How can agentic technology protect our digital reputation without compromising privacy?

• ​Are we returning to an oral culture of trust—and is that even a good thing?

​Guided by Gordon Brander, a leading voice in decentralized trust, we'll explore:

• ​McLuhan's "medium as the culture" lens for decoding the shape of network society

• ​Why gossip, virality, and memes now define truth more than experts or institutions

• ​What a minimum viable protocol for network-native reputation might look like (hint: anonymous, cryptographic, voluntary, bottom-up)

• ​The difference between authority built on borders vs. fluid, algorithmically mediated networks

• ​How autonomous agents can coordinate and cooperate in a hyper-oral digital environment

​We'll be joined by Seren Sandikci and Seref Yarar, co-founders of Index Network, who are prototyping this future through a private, intent-driven discovery protocol—matching people, opportunities, and ideas through competitive agent ecosystems that respect user privacy.

​Expect an insightful, provocative, and practical conversation blending philosophy, protocol design, and real-world applications of decentralized reputation.

​Stay curious, keep it Tethical, and we'll see you there!

​Anastasia, Zoe, Vivian, and Ross