I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz
Facebook has for years blocked links to my own blog, and now to news websites. Mastodon doesn't do that, and you can also keep your content, so Meta can't delete it all including your photos and friend connections. -
@futurebird @benroyce @taylorlorenz
This is a commercial!
@JackMexa4 @futurebird @taylorlorenz
i could totally see a "denizens of mastodon" campaign featuring prominent accounts
like, futurebird discussing some of her posts in the context of her ants
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@benroyce @taylorlorenz I would add
- I only see who I explicitly follow (no feed stuffing and manipulation).
- I can migrate to a new home seamlessly with low friction
- as each server sets its own policies, there is no risk of a central, single, set of beliefs controlling everyone.@benroyce @taylorlorenz @dsc I think there's another side to the lack of centralized moderation too -- it removes a lot of the "too big to fail" mentality, and in doing so actually allows more moderation.
We've got Twitter over here producing and distributing CSAM, and so many people and institutions *still* won't block or remove links to Twitter purely because of its size.
So you do get more freedom here, but at the same time you get stronger and more fair regulation. Regulation designed for your community instead of for global politics. For example, I follow accounts that post pornography, which would never be allowed on corporate socials. Yet it's all hidden behind appropriate CWs and such. Meanwhile back before I left Facebook I was getting random unsolicited hardcore porn just popping up in my feed a couple times a week! They'd remove it eventually, but not before it popped up full screen while I'm standing in line at the grocery store or something...
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Depending on the audience you could also mention the ants? Or don't it's fine.
@futurebird @benroyce @taylorlorenz Yes but are they pudding ants @midsomerplots
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz
Yesterday I saw a comment about Wikipedia: thankfully it works in practice because it doesn't work in theory. I think this applies to Mastodon and everything else; when personal gains are removed from the equation, people generally care for other people. -
I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
I'd describe it as tradeoffs.
Would we use email the way we do if only Gmail people could email Gmail people? I think it wouldn't.
So email is better (not without issues like spam) because anybody can email anybody.
Mastodon/Fediverse provides similar benefits (and some problems) that "federated email" provide compared to siloed email.
I would argue the benefits outweigh the negatives.
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@benroyce @taylorlorenz @dsc I think there's another side to the lack of centralized moderation too -- it removes a lot of the "too big to fail" mentality, and in doing so actually allows more moderation.
We've got Twitter over here producing and distributing CSAM, and so many people and institutions *still* won't block or remove links to Twitter purely because of its size.
So you do get more freedom here, but at the same time you get stronger and more fair regulation. Regulation designed for your community instead of for global politics. For example, I follow accounts that post pornography, which would never be allowed on corporate socials. Yet it's all hidden behind appropriate CWs and such. Meanwhile back before I left Facebook I was getting random unsolicited hardcore porn just popping up in my feed a couple times a week! They'd remove it eventually, but not before it popped up full screen while I'm standing in line at the grocery store or something...
on centralized #socialMedia, #moderation is just a cost center
why spend the money?
why squash #bigotry and #ignorance? it's a hassle
in fact, such accounts create drama, which drives eyeballs and clicks in outrage, thus increasing engagement, thus selling more ads
so they go "FrEe SpEeCh," a lying dodge
toxic as fuck. completely irresponsible
just another reason why corporate social media is and always will be rat poison and why everyone needs #mastodon
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz It’s a more authentic experience on here, they monitor bots and eradicate them, troll like replies trying to influence, steer your original post with a negative connotation just don’t happen. It’s less commercialised. A chair, chat and cup of tea, kinder experience.
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@vfrmedia @rk @futurebird @taylorlorenz
you just hit upon *the* one, absolutely compelling selling point for mastodon:
"we have cat pictures"
boom, 1 million new sign ups
@benroyce And thank goodness they are here. It’s so hard to find cat pix on the Internet
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@benroyce And thank goodness they are here. It’s so hard to find cat pix on the Internet
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@NMBA @taylorlorenz I think account mobility is key, ie the ability to move servers without losing followers.
@luciedigitalni @NMBA @taylorlorenz Followers numbers aren’t as important here doesn’t matter and newbies are welcomed warmly by experts.
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz
There's no owner, and no “algorithm” to promote what some big-tech owner likes people to read, or to feed you ever more and more of what you like to hear, just to get income from ads. There aren't any ads anyway. You can only follow (or block) what or who YOU prefer to. That's freedom. -
I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz I own my social media feed and my community. It feels like a local pub with friends where I share rumours and stories. Not attention seeking circus club.
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz No corporate overlord mining your data and then using it to dictate what's in your feed.
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
IMO the 'free speech' trope has been used to flood billionaires' platforms w hate speech & AI-generated deepfake porn that isn't tolerated on my Fediverse server
I'm here less for freedom TO spew whatever I want & more for freedom FROM algorithms, ads, & someone's profit motive determining what I see. I'm here for Solidarity & Movement Building & learning from people all over the world like @pluralistic & @popcornreel & @StillRise1967
Also for #CatsOfMastodon & #HashtagGames
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz Traditional social media is built to drive engagement and be addictive, making them a big part of Gen Z's social difficulties (they are literally being sued for it). Decentralized platforms without such algorithms bring back the feeling of community, providing a more tailored experience (choose your software, Mastodon, GoToSocial, Iceshrimp, etc.) without blocking connections. You can join a server based on your personal preferences (language, geolocation, hobbies...), and if you find a better place, you can freely move, without losing your connections.
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Mastodon is the anti-influence platform
On the social web we are
- free from the influence of megalomaniacs or any one person
- free from the influence of VCs and profit motivations
- free from the influence of algorithmic manipulationPlus as a bonus, you can follow a friend's "Instagram" from your "Twitter" account
*BOOSTS HARD FOR MAXIMUM CLOUT*
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz Because independent app developers can add features to decentralized social networking that vastly enhance the experience. Both the ability to follow hashtags and timed mutes are absolutely genius and are the reason I'm not on Bluesky. What new, totally kicksss things are going to be created for the Fediverse next week?
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz I see a lot of good responses. One contextual element is who is asking, and I think there are good answers that fit more for organizations. You can build a media platform that no one can take away from you. If you share a link to your post, no one will see a login wall. If i were an org, news outlet, or something like a very socially engaged regional music collective, i think the robust control of your platform actually means something important.
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I’ve been asked on TV hits and interviews lately to explain why decentralized social media is better, especially re: Mastodon.
How would you explain the benefits of a platform like Mastodon and the fediverse to someone in just a few sentences? How would you make the argument that platforms like Mastodon allow for more free expression than big tech controlled apps?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts! Trying to make my arguments most effective
@taylorlorenz Freedom. Free from algorithms. Free from the whims of an owner. It's people connecting as they see fit.
