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This is a product mindset that’s being applied to something that is not a product in a traditional sense. That’s kind of my point here. Mastodon represents a pr
by shortformblog 4y ago
This is a product mindset that’s being applied to something that is not a product in a traditional sense. That’s kind of my point here. Mastodon represents a presentation of open protocols, and all of the work was put into making sure those protocols and the broader network provided a good experience.
Additionally, social networks are not things you use just once or twice. I would argue that social media is defined by how it functions as a mature tool much more than the initial experiences. We have not had much in the way of social networks that seem to be designed for long-time users.
We focus too much on new users in a space where people use these tools for years, decades even.
- dasil003 4y agoYes, the pursuit of scale at all costs is what has led traditional social media to become such a dumpster fire. Is Mastodon the answer? I’m not sure, but it’s a legitimately interesting experiment at the very least.
- crazygringo 4y agoOf course Mastodon is a product in a traditional sense. Are you going to argue qBittorrent isn't a product because it's a "presentation of open protocols"? Of course it's a product too. Mastodon is an app on the Apple and Play stores, with a back end that's federated. You don't get much more "product" than that. It's entirely possible to focus on a good onboarding experience for new users and a good long-term experience. It's not either/or, that's a false dichotomy. And the idea that we don't have experience of social networks "designed for long-time users" is ludicrous. Virtually every social network out there wants its users to stay for a long time. And with Facebook and Twitter, there are many users out there using them for over a decade. The idea that we "focus too much on new users" is just bizarre, when the reality is that Mastodon isn't focusing enough on that.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- shortformblog 4y agoAnd why doesn't it focus on that? Because it's not a product in the traditional sense. It has completely different motives. I'm not going to argue this point until I'm blue in the face with you. Because at some point this kind of stuff is why open protocols always lose.
- clucas 4y agoThen it sounds like its motives aren't compatible with widespread adoption in the same way (e.g.) Twitter is.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago> it's not a product in the traditional sense. It has completely different motives If the motives aren’t engaging and delivering value to users, I’m not sure it has value beyond being a curiosity. If those are the motives, then it is a product. Not realising that is the classic trucks-versus-trains mistake. (Railroads didn’t initially see trucks as competition, because they were railroads, and trucks were trucks, while in reality, they were all freight. The railroads went bankrupt and were restructured.)
- hackmiester 4y agoThe economics definition of "product" is "an item offered for sale." Since we are on a forum for startups, most people are likely using this definition. By this definition, Mastodon is not a product. It is not for sale; it is a tool to be used and it is free software. The set of motives behind its creation and maintenance are completely different than something assembled with the intend of sale for profit.