This page is the running list of questions readers ask via /support. If you don't see your question here, send it; the page gets updated.
Account & identity
Do I need an account to use WeSearch?
No. The first time you tap a reaction or comment, a random API key and a stable handle are generated locally on your device. No email, no password, no phone number. You can read without ever creating an identity at all. More on anonymity.
What's a "Plain Loom 638" handle?
It's your generated display handle, derived deterministically from your local API key. Same key always produces the same handle. The handle is two adjectives + a noun + a number, drawn from a fixed word list. It never reveals your identity because we don't have one.
How do I use the same handle across devices?
Optionally set up email-recovery: Settings → Identity → Recovery. We email you a single-use link with a hash of your key; you click the link on a new device to import the key. The plaintext email never gets stored.
How do I reset my identity?
Settings → Identity → Reset key. Your old comments stay public under their old handle. The new key generates a new handle and starts fresh.
Can I have multiple identities?
Yes. Each device or each browser profile starts with its own key. If you want one identity for a tablet and a separate one for your laptop, just don't sync them. Use email-recovery to bind across devices when you want them unified.
Reading & feed
Is the feed personalized?
No. The home feed is chronological and identical for everyone. You can filter by category yourself, but the underlying sort is publish time. Why we made that choice.
How often does the feed update?
Every five minutes. The backend pulls each subscribed RSS feed on a rotating schedule and merges new items into the deduplicated chronological hub.
Why do I see the same headline twice?
You shouldn't, normally — we deduplicate by canonical URL. If you see it, it usually means three wires republished the same story under three different URLs. Send the example via /support and we'll look at the dedupe logic.
How do I follow only certain sources?
Open Discover, tap any source to add it to My Feeds, then switch the home tab to "Mine." Your list persists in localStorage and (if you set up email recovery) syncs to your hashed key.
Comments & reactions
Are comments anonymous?
Yes. Comments are posted under your generated handle, tied to a hashed local API key. We don't know who's behind a handle.
Can I delete a comment?
Yes — your own comments only. Tap the delete icon on any comment you posted. Deletion is permanent.
Can I delete someone else's comment?
No. Use the flag icon to report a comment. We review flags within one working day.
Can I post GIFs?
Yes. Inside any discussion, tap GIF to search a public-library proxy. Pick one and it renders inline for everyone in the thread.
Why was my comment hidden?
Comments are hidden when they target individuals, dox non-public figures, post spam, or constitute incitement under applicable law. We don't hide comments for being wrong, unpopular, or outside the mainstream. Full moderation policy.
Privacy & tracking
Do you track me?
No. We don't run any third-party analytics, ad pixels, or fingerprinting beacons. No Google Analytics, no Meta Pixel, no Chartbeat. Full tracking stance.
Do you sell my data?
No. We don't have any to sell. Full privacy policy.
What about cookies?
We use localStorage, not cookies, for your API key and feed preferences. We do not set tracking cookies of any kind.
Where is the data stored?
On a single DigitalOcean droplet running libsql/SQLite. Backups are encrypted snapshots stored in Spaces (DO's S3-compatible blob storage), retained 30 days.
Notifications
How do push notifications work?
Settings → Notifications → Enable push. The browser asks OS permission. Once granted, you can configure exactly what wakes you: front-page only, specific sources, specific categories, or keyword matches. Quiet hours are respected.
Do push notifications cost money?
No. Free for everyone, like everything else. No paywall.
Why didn't my push notification fire?
Common causes: browser revoked permission (re-enable in browser settings); story didn't match your watch list; quiet hours active. If none apply, send the timestamp and your watch settings via /support.
Sources & content
How many sources do you pull from?
700+ editorial RSS and Atom feeds. Browse the full catalog.
Why isn't my favorite source in the catalog?
Either we haven't added it yet, or it doesn't have a usable RSS feed. Suggest it via /support.
Why was a source removed?
Sources get removed when they go dormant 60+ days, when they start republishing wire copy without original reporting, when they begin publishing AI-generated articles without disclosure, or when they get caught fabricating sources. Full criteria.
Do you republish full articles?
No. Each story page hosts a stable summary with the publisher's headline, byline, source, AI-generated TL;DR, and a link to the original article. Full articles live on the publisher's site.
Can I reach a paywalled article through WeSearch?
If a publisher has a paywall on the original article, you'll meet that paywall when you click through. We don't bypass paywalls.
Donations & money
How do I donate?
/donate — Stripe checkout. One-time or monthly.
What does my donation buy?
Hosting, bandwidth, domain, processing fees, and occasional dev time. Full breakdown.
Do donations unlock features?
No. Same site for everyone. Donations keep the lights on, they don't buy access or influence.
Is WeSearch a registered nonprofit?
Not currently. Donations are not tax-deductible. If usage grows enough that nonprofit structure makes sense, we'll incorporate and post the public board.
Tech
Is WeSearch open source?
The project is open in spirit and the source is publicly readable. We don't run a formal contributor program yet but pull requests via /support are welcome.
What's the stack?
TypeScript on Node 25, Hono web framework, libsql/SQLite for storage, on a single DigitalOcean droplet. No third-party SaaS in the request path. Full pipeline.
Is there an API?
Yes. Public read endpoints have generous rate limits. Auth endpoints exist for write operations. Get a key on the homepage and the docs are at /v1/catalog.
Are there native iOS/Android apps?
Not yet. The web app is a fully PWA-installable progressive web app — Add to Home Screen on iOS gives you a fullscreen launcher with push notifications. Native apps are on the roadmap.
Where do I report a bug?
/support. Include the URL, what you did, what happened, what you expected.