Rest of World faces January shutdown as traffic collapses

Rest of World, a global technology news publication focused on the Global South and developing countries, may shut down at the end of January 2027. The publication is struggling with a sharp decline in search and social media traffic.

Its leadership is looking for a new institutional home. Founder and main financial backer Sophie Schmidt has held talks with several large institutions about absorbing the publication, Semafor reported. The report cited two people familiar with the plans.

Insiders told Semafor that the decline reflects wider problems facing online publishers. Meta has reduced the promotion of news links. Chatbots and AI-generated summaries are also changing how people find information. Readers can now get answers without visiting news websites.

Rina Chandran, deputy editor of Rest of World, confirmed the possible closure in a LinkedIn post on Monday. She said the publication would continue publishing until the end of January.

“After six years of award-winning reporting, our leadership is searching for a new home for the publication that was launched to cover innovation outside the West,” she wrote.

Chandran said the publication would honour existing commissions for freelancers and columnists. Its published work would also be preserved and remain accessible.

Rest of World launched in 2020. It reports on how technology affects people outside the West. Its coverage includes gig workers, digital businesses, e-commerce and emerging technologies across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Schmidt pledged $60 million to support the publication. Despite that backing, its audience has fallen sharply over the past 18 months, Semafor reported.

The publication tried to attract more Western readers. It also introduced a registration requirement. Neither measure reversed the decline.

The possible closure highlights the challenges facing independent newsrooms. Many rely on search engines and social media to reach readers. Changes to those platforms can sharply reduce their audience.

The loss could also affect coverage of developing countries. Rest of World has reported on how technology shapes work, business and everyday life in emerging markets. Its journalism often focuses on people overlooked by global technology coverage.

The publication is still exploring options for its future. If it cannot find a suitable institutional partner, it may wind down in January, Semafor reported.