What is Robin Letter?

A “Round Robin” was an old-fashioned way for a family (or other geographically distributed group) to keep in touch in the days before social media, email, or even cheap long distance calls. It was basically a packet full of letters that was sequentially mailed to each person in “the Robin”.

When someone received the Robin, that person would remove the letter they had included last time they had it, write a new letter talking about developments in their life, then add the new letter in the packet and send it on to the next person on the list. After the last person, it would be sent back to the first person, and a new “flight” of the Robin would begin.

This site is intended to replicate that experience in a modern way appropriate to the internet age, but jettisoning the algorithmic feeds trying to capture your attention typical of social media.

Instead, Robin Letter intends to foster a slower, longer form, periodic update to a circle of people who care how each other are doing. Rather than anyone posting to a wide group of people, or even to the entire world, Robin Letter focuses on smaller groups who want to stay connected.

With Robin Letter, just as with original Round Robins, everyone takes turns contributing updates. This turn-taking format encourages more thoughtful communications rather than just sharing a snapshot of the moment, and ensures that everybody has the opportunity to contribute equally.