Popular Opinion

[Popular Opinion] Federated social networks are more enjoyable than corporate ones

Corporate online social networks ultimately aim to increase profits, so they inevitably enshitify themselves. Meanwhile, the federated system allows users to switch instances or even create their own should their current main instance become unappealing. It also allows users to join several instances simultaneously, allowing users to tailor their experiences based on purpose and privacy.

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15 comments

I disagree. I find the federated networks to be self cannibalizing closed off ecosystems that craft themselves into something worst than any "corporate" social network. Don't get me wrong and think I'm a fan of traditional social networks. I've just come to understand that the federated universe of social networks is not what they made themselves out to be. They're controlled by small groups with barely any transparency on security and privacy and little ability to protect users from the dangers of the Internet. These servers are run by a handful of individuals who answer to no one. The federated networks have become a haven for misinformation and bigotry on a level that rival the mainstream social networks. The content shared is usually just taken from other networks or so obscure they barely generate any engagement. Etc, etc... TLDR, it's just worst here.
- There's very little oversight mitigate propaganda and it's immediately apparent after two minutes on Lemmy.
  
  all anyone does on lemmy is complain about hexbear, .ml, lemmygrad when they're essentially sanctioned from the rest of Lemmy. There are so many instances that have defederated them and you cannot even respond to Linux post without being told to fuck off with a hexbear.net account. Like why do you feel the need to complain and yell at clouds. The entirety of liberal Lemmy is on board with you and you choose to be annoyed. So typical.
  
  Here we have a great example of how the discourse is not much better in the federated universe. The majority of people are not shopping for "liberal" or "conservative" instances because they were told they would be able to mold a unique and better experience in the federated universe. Yet, here we are having to not only block bad subs and users but whole instances and there really is no way to keep the bad out of your curated sub/instance. It's the same cat and mouse game just much worse because of the federated universe. Bad actors are abusing this more and more and they're winning.
  
  For example? On what instance(s)?
  
  Lemmy.ml, lemmygrad.ml, and Hexbear are the worst. There's also a ton of propaganda on Lemmy.world.
  
  Block them if your instance not already defederated them anyway
  
  That will solve the problem only for me. I want to see Lemmy survive as a healthy social media option.
  
  I think that more freedom is better for the network and every user and instance should choose for themselves what they want to see. But I agree with you that it should be easier to find an instance that suits your preferences, especially if you are not yet familiar with other instances
  
  if they told you then you might be able to rebutt them

15 comments