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diff --git a/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.org b/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.org index 1365fe1..4aa9d6f 100644 --- a/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.org +++ b/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.org @@ -1,106 +1,123 @@ -+++ -date = 2021-01-04 -title = "A Simple Guide to the Fediverse" -description = "A simple guide to the fediverse, a federated universe of servers commonly used for sharing content, like social media." -draft = false -+++ - -## What is the Fediverse? - -The fediverse is a federated universe of servers commonly used for sharing -content, like social media. So, instead of having to rely on a single -organization to run the server (e.g. Facebook), the fediverse is a giant -collection of servers across the world, owned by many people and organizations. - -Take a look at this depiction of a federated network. -Each server in this photo is owned and run by different -administrators/owners. -Federated networks are best explained as email servers: you have an email -account that exists on a server (e.g. Outlook), your friend has an account on -a different server (e.g. GMail), and another friend has an account on a -third server (e.g. ProtonMail). -All three of you can talk and communicate back and forth without having to -be on the same server. -However, responsible email admins are there to set rules and control the +#+title: A Simple Guide to the Fediverse +#+date: 2021-01-04 + +** What is the Fediverse? +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: what-is-the-fediverse +:END: +The fediverse is a federated universe of servers commonly used for +sharing content, like social media. So, instead of having to rely on a +single organization to run the server (e.g. Facebook), the fediverse is +a giant collection of servers across the world, owned by many people and +organizations. + +Take a look at this depiction of a federated network. Each server in +this photo is owned and run by different administrators/owners. +Federated networks are best explained as email servers: you have an +email account that exists on a server (e.g. Outlook), your friend has an +account on a different server (e.g. GMail), and another friend has an +account on a third server (e.g. ProtonMail). All three of you can talk +and communicate back and forth without having to be on the same server. +However, responsible email admins are there to set rules and control the traffic going in/out of the server. - +#+caption: Federated services diagram +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210104-a-simple-guide-to-the-fediverse/federated-example.svg]] -The main objective of this architecture is to decentralize the control within -the internet connections. For example, if you run your own Mastodon instance, -you and your users can't be censored or impacted in any way by authorities of -another Mastodon instance. Some users have praised these features due to recent -criticism of popular social media websites that may be over-censoring their -users. +The main objective of this architecture is to decentralize the control +within the internet connections. For example, if you run your own +Mastodon instance, you and your users can't be censored or impacted in +any way by authorities of another Mastodon instance. Some users have +praised these features due to recent criticism of popular social media +websites that may be over-censoring their users. This strategy is great for making sure control of the social web isn't -controlled by a single organization, but it also has some downsides. If I create -a Mastodon instance and get a ton of users to sign up, I can shut the server -down at any time. That means you're at risk of losing the content you've created -unless you back it up, or the server backs it up for you. Also, depending on the -software used (e.g. Mastodon, Pixelfed, etc.), censorship may still be an issue -if the server admins decide they want to censor their users. Now, censorship -isn't always a bad thing and can even benefit the community as a whole, but -you'll want to determine which servers align with your idea of proper -censorship. - -However, these are risks that we take when we sign up for any online platform. -Whatever your reason is for trying out federated social networks, they are part -of the future of the internet. However, the popularity of these services is -still yet to be determined, especially with the increased difficulty -understanding and signing up for these platforms. Perhaps increased regulation -and litigation against current social media sites will push more users into the -fediverse. - -## Federated Alternatives to Popular Sites - -The list below is a small guide that will show you federated alternatives to -current popular websites. -There are many more out there, so go and explore: you might just find the -perfect home. - -### Reddit - -- [Lemmy](https://lemmy.ml/instances) - -### Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr - -- [Mastodon](https://joinmastodon.org) -- [Diaspora](https://diasporafoundation.org) -- [Friendica](https://friendi.ca) -- [GNU Social](https://gnusocial.network) -- [Pleroma](https://pleroma.social) - -### Instagram - -- [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org) - -### Slack/Discord - -- [Matrix](https://element.io) - -### Youtube/Vimeo - -- [Peertube](https://joinpeertube.org) - -### Spotify/Soundcloud - -- [Funkwhale](https://funkwhale.audio) - -### Podcasting - -- [Pubcast](https://pubcast.pub) - -### Medium/Blogger - -- [WriteFreely](https://writefreely.org) - -## Get Started - -The best way to get started is to simply sign up and learn as you go. If you're -comfortable signing up through a Mastodon, Pleroma, or Friendica server, here is -[a list of themed servers](https://fediverse.party/en/portal/servers) to choose -from. If you're looking for something else, try a web search for a federated -alternative to your favorite sites. +controlled by a single organization, but it also has some downsides. If +I create a Mastodon instance and get a ton of users to sign up, I can +shut the server down at any time. That means you're at risk of losing +the content you've created unless you back it up, or the server backs it +up for you. Also, depending on the software used (e.g. Mastodon, +Pixelfed, etc.), censorship may still be an issue if the server admins +decide they want to censor their users. Now, censorship isn't always a +bad thing and can even benefit the community as a whole, but you'll want +to determine which servers align with your idea of proper censorship. + +However, these are risks that we take when we sign up for any online +platform. Whatever your reason is for trying out federated social +networks, they are part of the future of the internet. However, the +popularity of these services is still yet to be determined, especially +with the increased difficulty understanding and signing up for these +platforms. Perhaps increased regulation and litigation against current +social media sites will push more users into the fediverse. + +** Federated Alternatives to Popular Sites +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: federated-alternatives-to-popular-sites +:END: +The list below is a small guide that will show you federated +alternatives to current popular websites. There are many more out there, +so go and explore: you might just find the perfect home. + +*** Reddit +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: reddit +:END: +- [[https://lemmy.ml/instances][Lemmy]] + +*** Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: twitterfacebooktumblr +:END: +- [[https://joinmastodon.org][Mastodon]] +- [[https://diasporafoundation.org][Diaspora]] +- [[https://friendi.ca][Friendica]] +- [[https://gnusocial.network][GNU Social]] +- [[https://pleroma.social][Pleroma]] + +*** Instagram +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: instagram +:END: +- [[https://pixelfed.org][Pixelfed]] + +*** Slack/Discord +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: slackdiscord +:END: +- [[https://element.io][Matrix]] + +*** Youtube/Vimeo +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: youtubevimeo +:END: +- [[https://joinpeertube.org][Peertube]] + +*** Spotify/Soundcloud +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: spotifysoundcloud +:END: +- [[https://funkwhale.audio][Funkwhale]] + +*** Podcasting +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: podcasting +:END: +- [[https://pubcast.pub][Pubcast]] + +*** Medium/Blogger +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: mediumblogger +:END: +- [[https://writefreely.org][WriteFreely]] + +** Get Started +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: get-started +:END: +The best way to get started is to simply sign up and learn as you go. If +you're comfortable signing up through a Mastodon, Pleroma, or Friendica +server, here is [[https://fediverse.party/en/portal/servers][a list of +themed servers]] to choose from. If you're looking for something else, +try a web search for a federated alternative to your favorite sites. Find a server that focuses on your passions and start there! |