Fediverse: Difference between revisions
Restructured the Imagine subsection to put the evocative language first. I felt that the goal here was to get the reader imagining possible alternative environments as much as possible. I also added an "Optimization" subsection below "Morals". While I agree with all the points in the "Morals" section, I do think they are a little too sweeping generalization to be as persuasive as possible. "Optimization" is the beginnings of a possible alternative.
HakabaHitoyo (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
(Restructured the Imagine subsection to put the evocative language first. I felt that the goal here was to get the reader imagining possible alternative environments as much as possible. I also added an "Optimization" subsection below "Morals". While I agree with all the points in the "Morals" section, I do think they are a little too sweeping generalization to be as persuasive as possible. "Optimization" is the beginnings of a possible alternative.) Tags: Reverted Visual edit |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
== Imagine == | == Imagine == | ||
Imagine Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Co were all part of one giant network. That's basically what the Fediverse is, except | Imagine commenting on a Youtube video from your Twitter account. Or the comments on your latest selfie being a conversation between friends on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Blogger. As if Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Co were all part of one giant network. That's basically what the Fediverse is, except there is no central "Facebook" place or "Twitter" site. Instead those things are made up of many small groups and websites who decided to communicate and exchange posts, videos, pictures, and comments with each other. | ||
The Fediverse is, by and large, the collective attempt of [[What is free software? |free software]] coders to create and offer an alternative to those platforms in a way that is less manipulative and ad focused. | |||
== How does it compare to traditional social media? == | ==How does it compare to traditional social media?== | ||
==== Features ==== | ====Features==== | ||
The Fediverse and its projects let you make your own social media part of a bigger network. | The Fediverse and its projects let you make your own social media part of a bigger network. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
The Fediverse innovates on what has worked before and adds many new features. A commonly supported feature is custom emojis. Similarly to Discord, it lets administrators add their own (even animated) emoji. The Fediverse also lets you decide who gets to see your posts: with so called scopes, you can decide whether only the users you mention, your followers or the public gets to see them. | The Fediverse innovates on what has worked before and adds many new features. A commonly supported feature is custom emojis. Similarly to Discord, it lets administrators add their own (even animated) emoji. The Fediverse also lets you decide who gets to see your posts: with so called scopes, you can decide whether only the users you mention, your followers or the public gets to see them. | ||
==== Morals ==== | ==== Morals==== | ||
Traditional social media is neither social nor media. It is not made for you, it is made to exploit you and it is full of misleading ads and fake news. <br> | Traditional social media is neither social nor media. It is not made for you, it is made to exploit you and it is full of misleading ads and fake news. <br> | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
The aim of the Fediverse is to empower the users to control the Fediverse. | The aim of the Fediverse is to empower the users to control the Fediverse. | ||
== Terminology== | ==== Optimization ==== | ||
Traditional social media platforms operate either by generating revenue from the sales of ads or the sale of personal data to third parties. This means that their primary concern is optimizing their platform to generate more ad sales or salable data. The structure of the platform and it's features then always lean towards increasing anything that also increases revenue. Does the presence of pink ponies somehow draw more views (which are tied to ad views)? Then expect to see more pink ponies. Do you engage with the platform more frequently and for longer periods of time when you are angry? Then the platform has an incentive to make sure you are angry as often as possible. | |||
Fediverse platforms by contrast are typically run by individuals and communities. Federation means that communities can create their own space and also interact with the wider internet at the same time. This means platforms are more likely to prioritize users and their needs. It is a structure that leans towards optimizing for fruitful and healthy human interaction rather than corporate profits. | |||
==Terminology== | |||
* Your '''account''' or '''identity''' has a unique address called a '''handle''' and is hosted on one of the many servers, also called instances. | * Your '''account''' or '''identity''' has a unique address called a '''handle''' and is hosted on one of the many servers, also called instances. | ||
* An '''instance''' is basically a small social network hosted on one server. Each instance can have its own set of rules as for what content is allowed. You can also host your own instance. Each instance runs one software. | * An '''instance''' is basically a small social network hosted on one server. Each instance can have its own set of rules as for what content is allowed. You can also host your own instance. Each instance runs one software. | ||
* The '''software''' used on an instance is essential for the user experience and possibilities. | *The '''software''' used on an instance is essential for the user experience and possibilities. | ||
* Many software projects use the same '''protocol''' which enables instances to communicate with each other. Most software projects use Activity Pub. Some projects might not have full federation with other projects yet. | *Many software projects use the same '''protocol''' which enables instances to communicate with each other. Most software projects use Activity Pub. Some projects might not have full federation with other projects yet. | ||
* The '''Fediverse''' (federated universe) is the sum of all '''accounts''', on all '''instances''' using any '''software''', communicating with any '''protocol'''. <br> The Fediverse includes more than just social media projects. Any software that federates using one of the protocols is part of the Fediverse. | *The '''Fediverse''' (federated universe) is the sum of all '''accounts''', on all '''instances''' using any '''software''', communicating with any '''protocol'''. <br> The Fediverse includes more than just social media projects. Any software that federates using one of the protocols is part of the Fediverse. | ||
* [https://climatejustice.social/@PaulaToThePeople @PaulaToThePeople@ClimateJustice.social] is an example for a handle. [https://climatejustice.social/ ClimateJustice.social] is the instance the account is on. The software it uses is Mastodon. Thanks to the ActivityPub protocol it can follow accounts on other instances that use e.g. Mastodon, GNU Social or Pixelfed software. | *[https://climatejustice.social/@PaulaToThePeople @PaulaToThePeople@ClimateJustice.social] is an example for a handle. [https://climatejustice.social/ ClimateJustice.social] is the instance the account is on. The software it uses is Mastodon. Thanks to the ActivityPub protocol it can follow accounts on other instances that use e.g. Mastodon, GNU Social or Pixelfed software. | ||
== How do I get an account? == | ==How do I get an account?== | ||
''Main article: [[How do I get an account?]]'' | ''Main article: [[How do I get an account?]]'' | ||
| Line 52: | Line 57: | ||
For more info on finding the right instance and creating an account click the link above. <br> | For more info on finding the right instance and creating an account click the link above. <br> | ||
== Further Reading == | ==Further Reading== | ||
[[What are Fediverse projects?]] <br> | [[What are Fediverse projects?]] <br> | ||
| Line 61: | Line 66: | ||
[[Fediverse]] - the advanced page on the Fediverse | [[Fediverse]] - the advanced page on the Fediverse | ||
== External Links == | ==External Links== | ||
''Main article: [[Fediverse weblinks]]'' | ''Main article: [[Fediverse weblinks]]'' | ||
| Line 73: | Line 78: | ||
DE: [https://digitalcourage.de/digitale-selbstverteidigung/fediverse Fediverse – So geht gutes Social Media] <br> | DE: [https://digitalcourage.de/digitale-selbstverteidigung/fediverse Fediverse – So geht gutes Social Media] <br> | ||
DE: [https://schwarzerpfeil.de/2021/02/10/das-fediverse/ Das Fediverse] <br> | DE: [https://schwarzerpfeil.de/2021/02/10/das-fediverse/ Das Fediverse] <br> | ||
[[Category:What is]] | [[Category:What is]] | ||
[[Category:Fediverse]] | [[Category:Fediverse]] | ||
[[Category:Beginners guide]] | [[Category:Beginners guide]] | ||