Mastodon.
But people go where people are, so we’ll see if it gets traction.
But people go where people are, so we’ll see if it gets traction.
It seems like a lot of effort to go to when all I want is a social messaging app. I want to make an account once and be able to message anyone else on whatever app I'm using, not have to worry about whether my chosen node happens to be connected to theirs, not to mention that something like this [0] can happen and then apparently you need to personally handle migrating your data to another instance. These are technical details, not things that users should need to think about.
I don't see any federated messaging platform becoming popular until it reaches the point where users don't even have to understand what "federated messaging" means.
[0] https://ashfurrow.com/blog/mastodon-technology-shutdown/
I think it's about time people in general started to learn about what it means to entrust the entirety of their communication on singular entities that don't have a shred of respect for them, their agency, their rights, or their well-being in any way whatsoever.
My personal belief is the ignorant trust of the tech world is on its way out, without severe legislation to protect the rights of the public. The right to own the data they produce (and prevent it from being held hostage), the right to privacy, the right to agency over what kind of communications and solicitations they are subjected to on the now-essential Internet. Dunno, just my thoughts but I see Mastodon (and similar federated networks) as absolutely crucial examples of the way forward.