@Gargron https://www.heise.de/news/Das-Zeitalter-der-Paywalls-4696357.html?seite=all

@Gargron
I agree with your thoughts.
There seems to be few spaces now that are quiet.

@gargron This came to my mind:

Medien: 1

@Gargron

Ja, es kommt aber vor, dass beim oeffnen eines manuellen quotetoot eine andere installierte mastodon app geoeffnet wird, die dann die instanzauswahl anzeigt.

@Gargron and things that are public are in danger of being effectively ddosed by ai scrapers. So broken and sad indeed 😭

@Gargron Amen to that! I’ve noticed Bluesky gives you a weird, degraded version of the interface if you’re not logged in. Also, I know this is often overlooked, but I want to compliment you on it: GOOD MOBILE WEB UI. SO MANY sites these days have a mobile web that's horrible on purpose to get you to download their app. I usually do not need the app. I only downloaded the Mastodon app because 1: it’s mastodon, so I trust it and 2: the mobile web UI is good, which makes me confident the app is too

@Gargron I can understand that newspapers and magazines need to make money to produce stories. However, they don't seem to realize that not everyone has the money to spend on subscriptions to *maybe* read an article every few months.
It's to the point that if I run into one, the place gets added to a list I have that rhymes with "Bucket" list.

@Gargron the one exception would probably be AI scrapers.

@Gargron I propose that historians officially call this time period the Age of Enshittification. Much like Information age/etc.

I'm sure it's not a word historians would like, but I'm afraid it is necessary.

@Gargron i feel you

I am, however, glad, that being picky with the software you use, the modern web feels a lot nicer to use without sacrificing too much.

@gargron yes, web is broken, but I tend to say, whole media and IT sector is. A couple of weeks ago I learned, that actual news papers are printing pay walls now on paper - yes half of the page had a overlay with a tablet and the ad
"Join xy to read this article" 😃

@Gargron Thank you for your contribution to its quality and keeping a fresh breath of life in today’s web ❤️🙏

@Gargron

i support a few formats, that refuse to do that periodically.

@Gargron

The solution to the Google mobile phone issue is one I've solved e/OS which is #deGoogle #Android. Been using #eOS for a number of years. Great security as well.

https://e.foundation/e-os/

#eFoundation #murena #security #privacy #OS #phones #mobiles

@Gargron
I deleted my Facebook/Instagram account ages ago, along with Twitter. I’ve eliminated Google from my life except Gmail & YouTube. I do not use SSO services. I do not use Chrome or any Chromium-based web browsers and I use ad blockers to virtually eliminate all advertising and most tracking from my web activity. I use Archive.is to break through paywalls. I do not subscribe to or use any streaming media services with advertising, even if offered to me for free.

@Gargron the web reflects the reality of capitalism. Whenever there's a place where many people gather, like a populated street or a train station, there'll be plenty of ads to sell you something.

Truth is, capitalism is a sorry state for humanity, designed to enrich an elite at the cost of enslaving the masses. And yes, the web as we know it is just an extension of that.

Fortunately, there are still places like the Fediverse to counter that. But the mainstream web is sick and rotten.

@Gargron The situation is even worse with news publishers. Most content is locked behind paywalls, and users are often required to pay to opt out of cookies, all while facing intrusive advertising.

In contrast, at @thegazettecoop, we only have a simple newsletter pop-up that can be easily dismissed. Everything else is accessible for free, without ads, paywalls or login. Our members keep our journalism free.

@Gargron As illustrated here in the presentation about Mastodon that I gave recently; showing the same post on Mastodon vs Facebook (after you accept the cookie warning for advertising and tracking)

https://vid.northbound.online/w/xyRT9N3uTqAmGEmXpsNz6V?subtitle=en

📸 by @forteller

Medien: 1

@Gargron
Another concerning trend is websites asking to disable the ad blocker in order to proceed.
I wouldn’t mind watching a short ad to support the service. What I am not ok with is profiling and tracking

@Gargron I 💯 agree!

@Gargron i recently found out that on facebook people can share your "public post" but you would have no clue who they are (because they probably set their audience to their friends for instance)

@Gargron I sometimes try to browse hashtags on other instances but it is not allowed on everyone.

@Gargron

[please pay $0.99 to watch this reply]

:P

@Gargron

"Why don't you JUST install the app?? EVERYONE has it!"

@Gargron

I am very glad too, I never really wanted to be on a social although someone dragged me to Facebook after my father died, but that's no longer active and I have no regrets about that.

I like it here, although moderation is absolutely key, and I appreciate all the efforts that make this a real community. Thumbs up to the ones who take such terrific care of the instance I'm on 😊

@synq