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The next generation of social networks is already here. It's decentralized and open-source. Mastodon, Pleroma, PeerTube, loads more, all part of the same networ

The next generation of social networks is already here. It's decentralized and open-source. Mastodon, Pleroma, PeerTube, loads more, all part of the same network, the fediverse.

rhinoceraptor 7y ago
I'm not sure it's really possible to launch new decentralized protocols anymore, and get any kind of mainstream traction. We have HTTP and email basically by historical accident. Even RSS was shown to really just be an implementation detail of Google Reader, and there wasn't enough of an organic ecosystem outside of that for it to survive.
- riffic 7y ago
  the protocol has been launched already. it's only a matter of time before the network effect kicks in. I would assume that once a major media company or government organization realizes they can adopt an implementation of the existing protocol this will move that network a bit closer to the tipping point.
  - macspoofing 7y ago
    >it's only a matter of time before the network effect kicks in. Can you quantify that? XMPP has been around forever and the biggest chat messengers are proprietary. IRC has been around forever, but Slack and Teams are what's actually being used. What is the evidence that an open standard for social use-cases can actually drive use?
blackrock 7y ago
I’ve never been to any of those sites, but Mastodon and PeerTube sounds like shady porn sites.
donatj 7y ago
The only people who use decentralized and open-source social media are the people who care that it is decentralized and open-source. They are niche at best, no ones grandparents are on Mastodon.
- gargron 7y ago
  I never said end-users should care that it's decentralized and open source. I am mentioning it because we're on HN, a tech-oriented website. The selling point of the fediverse is the governance model and sustainability, and the way these qualities are missing from Twitter/Facebook/&co has been in the mainstream consciousness for a few years already. Also the grandparents comment is nonsense. How many people's grandparents are on Snapchat or TikTok? How many people's grandparents are on Instagram? It's a completely arbitrary demographic goal post.
Dumblydorr 7y ago
I'm a regular HN user, deleted FB three years ago, I've never even heard of any of those sites.
- snisarenko 7y ago
  I am building a few aggregators if you want to explore the fediverse without registering first. https://mastodonia.club https://mastodonia.club https://pixelfed.club https://pixelfed.club
- riffic 7y ago
  good opportunity for you to learn about something new then. ActivityPub is a W3C recommendation and is the protocol powering a diverse and healthy ecosystem of social networking sites.

The next generation of social networks is already here. It's decentralized and open-source. Mastodon, Pleroma, PeerTube, loads more, all part of the same network, the fediverse.

rhinoceraptor 7y ago

I'm not sure it's really possible to launch new decentralized protocols anymore, and get any kind of mainstream traction. We have HTTP and email basically by historical accident. Even RSS was shown to really just be an implementation detail of Google Reader, and there wasn't enough of an organic ecosystem outside of that for it to survive.

riffic 7y ago
the protocol has been launched already. it's only a matter of time before the network effect kicks in. I would assume that once a major media company or government organization realizes they can adopt an implementation of the existing protocol this will move that network a bit closer to the tipping point.
- macspoofing 7y ago
  >it's only a matter of time before the network effect kicks in. Can you quantify that? XMPP has been around forever and the biggest chat messengers are proprietary. IRC has been around forever, but Slack and Teams are what's actually being used. What is the evidence that an open standard for social use-cases can actually drive use?

blackrock 7y ago

I’ve never been to any of those sites, but Mastodon and PeerTube sounds like shady porn sites.

donatj 7y ago

The only people who use decentralized and open-source social media are the people who care that it is decentralized and open-source. They are niche at best, no ones grandparents are on Mastodon.

gargron 7y ago
I never said end-users should care that it's decentralized and open source. I am mentioning it because we're on HN, a tech-oriented website. The selling point of the fediverse is the governance model and sustainability, and the way these qualities are missing from Twitter/Facebook/&co has been in the mainstream consciousness for a few years already. Also the grandparents comment is nonsense. How many people's grandparents are on Snapchat or TikTok? How many people's grandparents are on Instagram? It's a completely arbitrary demographic goal post.

Dumblydorr 7y ago

I'm a regular HN user, deleted FB three years ago, I've never even heard of any of those sites.

snisarenko 7y ago
I am building a few aggregators if you want to explore the fediverse without registering first. https://mastodonia.club https://mastodonia.club https://pixelfed.club https://pixelfed.club
riffic 7y ago
good opportunity for you to learn about something new then. ActivityPub is a W3C recommendation and is the protocol powering a diverse and healthy ecosystem of social networking sites.