Network School Acquires Farcaster, Requires Users to Sign a Social Contract

Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School has acquired Farcaster from Neynar, and the change comes with a new condition for users: sign a “social smart contract” or lose the ability to post. Users who do not sign will retain read-only access, meaning they can view content but cannot participate normally.

The announcement makes the contract a choice with a clear consequence, but the available details do not explain its terms or what signing commits users to. That makes the contract itself—not just the ownership change—the key issue for Farcaster users to understand.

What changes for Farcaster users?

Farcaster users who sign the contract can continue using the platform with posting access. Those who refuse are not described as being removed entirely; they will be able to read, but not post.

That distinction matters for people who use Farcaster to publish or join conversations: read-only access preserves access to the feed, but removes the ability to contribute. Before signing, users should review the contract’s actual wording and any information the platform provides about how it affects their account.

What should users look for next?

The report does not give a deadline for signing or spell out the contract’s provisions. The practical next step is to check Farcaster’s own notices for the full terms, when the requirement takes effect, and whether users have any options beyond signing or switching to read-only access.

This is more than a change in ownership: it ties an account’s ability to publish to acceptance of a new agreement. For Farcaster users, the important comparison is not simply who runs the app now, but what rights and obligations the new contract sets before they agree.