One of the topics that WordCamp Canada is focused on this year is keeping the web open. One way to keep the web open is by having a Fediverse account. In this post, I’ll explain what the Fediverse is, why you should consider using a Fediverse platform, and why I continue to use one.
What is the Fediverse?
Imagine, instead of having to log in to one platform to chat with anyone else on it, you could log in to any number of different platforms and chat with someone else who is on a different one.
That’s what “federation” does. Federated platforms, like Canadian Mastodon instances, are open to sharing who is on their instance, and the things they publish. They are interoperable.
It does seem weird since so many of us are used to log in to Facebook to chat with friends who have a Facebook account. However, imagine if you could log in to Facebook to chat with everyone on Facebook and X, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. While those platforms don’t allow that, the Fediverse does.
Why you should consider creating a Fediverse account
No algorithm
Tired of the algorithm only showing you the most popular or seemly random posts? On the fediverse there is no algorithm, meaning you can see each post from everyone you follow. You may come to realize how often or little someone posts.
Algorithms are also designed to get you to spend lots of time and attention on fluff, garbage, and noise. Per Axbom says it so well:
“The code is not predictable, and it is designed to steal and hold attention. It steals this attention by exploiting user-created content, using it to elicit strong wayward emotions, as well as the illusion of significance and approval by numbers.”
With the Fediverse, you decide when you are done reading.
Ability to mute topics
Don’t want to see posts about a TV show you’re watching? You can mute that, and not just the hashtags that relate to it, whole words can also be muted.
Many of the Fediverse platforms allow you to not just mute people, but also a select a time frame for how long you want the mute to be applied for. The exact time lengths vary depending on what software you’re using and may change as the developers work on that software.
Engagement with real people
With many social media platforms like X, every time you post something, there are bots in the replies. It happens when any platform becomes popular and easy to sign up for.
Within the Fediverse, I’ve found 99.9% of replies are from actual people. If you see replies that you believe are spam or may break a rule, then you can report it. Admins need to respond to reported content, or they will eventually lose users.
Fediverse isn’t Meta, Facebook, Twitter, X, or LinkedIn
If you want to be on a platform that isn’t owned by one company, then look to the Fediverse. Seriously, while there are people who work on the software that makes up the Fediverse, no company tells them what to do. There are even forks of popular Fediverse software if a group of people don’t like the pace of development or want certain features.
Personally, I’ve found many people on the Fediverse who say they never have had an account on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Nobody knows every post you’ve liked or saved
Do you want those who are following you to know exactly what posts you’ve liked or saved? You can’t do that in the Fediverse. Each Fediverse software has a slightly different way of saying who gets notified when you hit like or save, in this case I’m going to focus on Mastodon as it’s currently the Fediverse software I use.
When you indicate you “like” something by clicking “favourite,” it notifies the person who published that post, as well as anyone else who is tagged on it. If someone is curious about who has liked a certain post, they can go to that individual post, click on the number of people who have liked it, and the list will show each person.
Clicking “save,” also known as “bookmark” within Mastodon, doesn’t tell anyone you’ve done this. You can access both your favourite and bookmark list by clicking on the relevant name within the list.
No account needed to see posts
Unlike almost every social media platform, Fediverse platforms like Mastodon don’t require you to have an account to see public posts. That’s done on purpose, the focus is on exposure, not getting more users.
No Ads
There are no ads in the sidebar or while reading posts within the Fediverse. How do they stay online then? They are powered by donations. Each Mastodon instance owner or governing organization decides what happens when the donations exceed what it costs them to run it. Often they keep a buffer of around six months so if costs suddenly increase they can easily pay it. Sometimes they give that money to other Fediverse sites that need help, a donation to a charity could take place, or they can spend it to upgrade the hardware behind the site.
Why I continue to use Fediverse
Personally, I’ve used the Fediverse for over six years, and for almost that entire time, I’ve kept it as my primary social media platform. Besides those reasons above, here are some personal reasons why I continue to keep and use my Fediverse account.
It’s international and diverse
I’ve found the Fediverse has allowed me to connect with more people, not just across Canada, but around the world. People I follow live in Montreal, Calgary, Sweden, India, Australia, and more.
What about being diverse? It’s important to see diverse voices online, every platform that I know of, including the Fediverse, has had trouble with users pushing people off the platform. I do believe the Fediverse is better equipped for it since there isn’t one central person or company running it. Most Mastodon instances are committed to defining their values and maintaining the culture they want.
Respond when you can
Within the Fediverse, the fast-paced social media mentality of the closed platforms disappears. You respond when you can — hours or even days later. Nobody expects a response right away.
Not only does this allow you to spend your time doing other things, you can gather your thoughts, draft a response, and only actually respond when you feel ready to do so.
Can choose to use any name you want
On many social media platforms, you are either required or heavily encouraged to use your real full name. There are many people who don’t want to do that, either because they have a different preferred name, are in the midst of a name change, or any number of other reasons.
Over on the Fediverse, you can choose to enter any name you want. Granted, you’ll want to enter a name that people will recognize you by, so that they know which account is yours.
I hope these are convincing enough reasons for you to join the Fediverse, and especially a Canadian one. If you’re on the fence, find an instance, sign up, and give yourself a month before deciding if the Fediverse is right for you. Within that month, seriously take the time to find the right people to follow (like me and the WordCamp Canada account). If you decide the Fediverse isn’t something you want to be part of, then you can delete the account without needing to contact anyone.
Further Reading
- Social-Media Algorithms Rule How We See the World. Good Luck Trying to Stop Them (paywalled)
- Fedi First
- Federating Social Media
- My experience going viral on Mastodon
- Autonomy Online: A Case For The IndieWeb
- Introducing the Fediverse: a New Era of Social Media by Elena Rossini
Props (what are props?) to @dpknauss (Dan Knauss) for helping with editing.
