The WELL

What if you could create a space for conversation, a digital salon, long before the world knew what a social network was? In 1985, Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant did just that, founding The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link, or The WELL. It began as a dial-up bulletin board system, a place for the writers and thinkers of the Whole Earth Review to connect. The core idea was simple but powerful: You Own Your Own Words, a principle that established both credit and responsibility for what was shared. This attracted a dedicated community of articulate individuals, creating what many would call the primordial ooze of online community. The WELL's journey saw several ownership changes. In 1994, Bruce Katz, founder of Rockport shoes, acquired the platform. Then, in a move that seemed like a natural fit, online magazine Salon.com, itself founded by WELL members, purchased the company in 1999. However, by 2012, Salon decided The WELL no longer aligned with its business strategy. Facing an uncertain future, the community rallied. In a significant turn of events, a group of eleven long-time members formed The WELL Group Inc. and purchased the company themselves for a reported $400,000, ensuring the continuation of this pioneering virtual community.