Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 09:47:17
»#Hosting a #Mastodon instance [#ActivityPub] is a one-step process, and you then #control #everything. To get the same experience with #atproto [#Bluesky], you’ll need to spend #hundreds or #thousands of #dollars a month, and even then you still don’t control everything as of today.« https://eicker.news/@technews/113494335219996297
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 10:33:52
And you could also use something else (lot of #ActivityPub based software exist) or even create your own.
See also (in German):
https://hhmx.de/@nick/905102
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 10:40:45
@nick No doubt, but we should also remember that #ActivityPub is much older and #ATproto is far from being “finished.”
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 10:47:42
well, I guess what @nick means is that hosting mastodon is a "is a one-step process" but for people doing media also the first step.
There should be "no gap" between your eicker.news content and a mastodon instance. Online Journalism really must think the web forward and dev. new things with Open Protocols apart from using http as a paper stack.
E.g. we described what we build at Berlin Fediday in a hurry in german https://www.youtube.com/live/Ieihyq3JbWs?si=CObMwuj7Jur9_zHI&t=7693
A broader perspective is in the Talk for Public Spaces [EN] https://video.publicspaces.net/w/9USsJ37cHVy4tY9Pn7DX2X or the book [DE] https://socialmediafalle.de/
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 10:51:35
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 11:56:14
I wanted to mention, that you can also chose something "smaller" to start an #ActivityPub based instance. And if you want to dive into the tech stuff, it is possible (also for a single person). So i agree, that #ActivityPub needs less resources.
And yes, getting out of "Slave Media" is an important step to understand and do!
So, as almost always, many things to consider...
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 12:16:15
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 12:41:02
Several stuff to consider, i would guess.
* Advertising
* Presence in the media
* The simple approach: Just #BlueSky... nothing else.
* ...
Similar regarding #Threads...
#Mastodon is part of the #Fediverse... so already this may sound more complex. What does this mean? Where to register? And even reducing it to #Mastodon... it is federated... and the Mastodon company is a small one... even with starting now first merchandising.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 12:44:22
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 12:49:03
Don't think so...
... would guess, more a matter of communication and awareness.
People handle federated systems like e-mail or the phone network without problems.
The #Fediverse isn't driven by a large company doing advertising, public relations, lobbying and all that stuff.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 12:52:21
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 14:03:49
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 14:06:38
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 15:54:54
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 16:37:32
@nick @sl007 Mastodon is now 8 1/2 years old. It’s quite clear that the communication hasn’t worked in a way that would generate significant traction beyond a small group; approximately 1M regular Mastodon users out of 5.4B internet users.
The decentralized communication of these users (if it even occurs!) is obviously not enough. For instance, I mention Mastodon disproportionately on https://eicker.TV. But that’s not an adequate strategy, at best it’s just nice communication.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 16:42:35
@nick @sl007 Oh, and what I regularly notice is that Mastodon has a surprisingly bad reputation. There are frequent comments from people saying how condescendingly they were welcomed on Mastodon, which made them leave again (I have no idea which side was responsible for that, of course). And on top of that, the CSEM issue still lingers in the minds of some people when they think of Mastodon.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 18:07:57
In this case, what do you mean with #Mastodon? The software, their developers, a specific instance, the #Fediverse as a network of thousands of independent servers?
And CSEM? Are you referring to "Child sexual exploitation material"? Which issue?
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 18:18:55
@nick @sl007 I suspect the instances and users those people first encountered when they came into contact with »Mastodon.«
Yes, CSEM/CSAM, and the accusation isn’t unfounded, though ultimately unavoidable in any decentralized network: https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/24/23806093/mastodon-csam-study-decentralized-network
In any case, it’s something that has obviously stuck with many people – and is repeatedly brought up by opponents especially from the Musk camp.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 19:45:05
Usually #Fediverse instance operators will defederate such instances like it was done with Gab in 2019.
And obviously not wanted content is not limited to federated networks.
Föderation DE Mo 18.11.2024 09:16:03
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 18:05:09
The software #Mastodon is developed since 2016, yes. #Friendica for example since 2010. The #Fediverse started approx. in 2008.
But this isn't the story of a company with a large budget or venture capital.
So difficult to compare.
Btw.: I see on eicker.tv, that you mention #YouTube, #TikTok, #LinkedIn, #Telegram, #Instagram, #Facebook. Not a single #Fediverse platform.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 18:23:24
@nick @sl007 Maybe that’s exactly the problem? Without small and large companies, the internet might also have become an irrelevant niche in the media landscape.
Besides: So far, the Fediverse hasn’t really supported vertical short videos. I’m participating in the TestFlight for Loops and am curious to see where it leads.
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 19:48:04
Föderation DE So 17.11.2024 19:57:42
@nick @sl007 In 1994, I had internet access for the very first time. Great spirit, but not very sophisticated.
It only became truly exciting — even for the vast majority of people who had ignored it before — with the vast amount of money from VCs and corporations.
Spirit is nice, but probably not enough for most people?
Loops’ public beta has only just begun; and indeed, it’s from Pixelfed. But as far as I understand, it’s not based on ActivityPub yet.
Föderation EN Mo 18.11.2024 09:15:01
Föderation DE Mo 18.11.2024 09:19:03
Tusky DE Mo 18.11.2024 10:42:25
@gerrit@eicker.news @nick@norden.social @sl007@digitalcourage.social @claudius@darmstadt.social
#Mastodon is just one type of server software to run an instance in the #Fediverse.
So it is not the platform, it is not the network.
Also someone who operates a #Fediverse instance using the #Mastodon software is not Mastodon itself.
Föderation DE Mo 18.11.2024 10:50:37
@nick@hhmx.de @nick@norden.social @sl007 @claudius None of this is new. However, Mastodon is undoubtedly the most well-known software in the Fediverse.
Anyway, where is this kind of argumentation supposed to lead? That Mastodon, the Fediverse, and thus ActivityPub remain a tiny niche forever?
Tusky DE Di 19.11.2024 07:33:01
@gerrit@eicker.news @nick@norden.social @sl007@digitalcourage.social @claudius@darmstadt.social
This shouldn't be new, but i had the feeling, some information was missing.
Föderation DE Di 19.11.2024 07:47:35
@nick@hhmx.de @nick@norden.social @sl007 @claudius This is probably what others mean by that attitude mentioned above: #Mastodon, #Fediverse, #ActivityPub is technically/structurally simple to understand and therefore requires no explanation.
What does, however, need to be explained is the potential advantage of this technology compared to alternatives. And even more importantly: the simple #marketing of these #ideas as an advantage in everyday lives!
