Transition from Facebook

Building a better home for our reading community

Why We're Moving

  • Facebook threads get buried.
  • Searching and navigation are difficult.
  • U80 needs a permanent, organized home.

For the 2026 season, we're building a new discussion platform that will be integrated directly into this site. The exact technology is still being evaluated, but our priorities are clear: accessibility, community ownership, and a reading-first experience.

What Changes in 2026

  • Daily reading + discussion will live on this site.
  • Facebook will be used only for temporary announcements/links during transition.

What Stays the Same

  • 80-day structure
  • Daily page ranges + opening/closing lines
  • RTÉ audio companion
  • Weekly Zoom → podcast

Our Guiding Principles

Community First

Discussions should serve readers, not advertisers. No promoted posts, no engagement bait.

Privacy Respected

Your reading journey is yours. No data harvesting, no tracking across the web.

Thoughtful Discussion

A space designed for depth, not viral moments. Quality over quantity.

What to Expect

  • 1

    2025 Season

    The demo site you're viewing now. Discussion engine selection in progress.

  • 2

    Late 2025

    Beta testing of new discussion features with returning community members.

  • 3

    2026 Season

    Full launch with integrated discussions, no Facebook required.

"Demo only: discussion engine will be chosen before 2026 season. Not Facebook."

Have thoughts on what our new discussion home should look like?

See Community Reflections