3 Decentralised Social Media Alternatives To Consider

This press release/comment is so badly written!

It’s NOT offence to post inaccurate info due to not checking.

It IS an offence to a) *intentionally* stir racial hatred; b) *knowingly* publish false information *intending* to cause non-trivial harm. That’s what she’s accused of. https://t.co/2CTQILMLjy

— Silkie Carlo (@silkiecarlo) August 9, 2024

Building a New Social Circle

One way you can protect yourself online is by moving to (or at least starting to learn about) Social Media platforms that are more decentralised and free speech orientated, these types of social media accounts make you less likely to be deplatformed and if you are a reactionary person… You can even set your posts to self destruct on one of them!

Let’s face it, it’s not you who’s broken… Social media is broken and it’s being used as a tool for rapid social change. It’s being leveraged to influence your behaviour in ways you don’t even realise, from buying stuff you don’t need to believing stories that are absolute bollocks.

Unfortunately for decentralised platforms, slow adoption and ease of use concerns hamper their popularity and present hurdles to people who are resistant to change or clinging to their old audience metrics but once you move away and realise how badly you’ve been manipulated by algorithms and echo chambers, you can have no other choice than to leave those places behind for good.

Decentralised platforms are the digital equivalent of homesteading.  A place where you can start again, build a new community of like minded individuals and find a balanced and healthy alternative that’s more conducive to the human experience.

3 Decentralised Social Media Alternatives To Consider

Mastodon

Mastodon, launched in 2016 by Eugen Rochko is a free, open source social networking platform that has gained significant traction in the decentralised space. Unlike traditional social media giants, Mastodon operates on a federated network of independently run servers, collectively known as the “Fediverse.”

At its core, Mastodon resembles Twitter in its microblogging format, allowing users to post short messages called “toots.” However, the similarities end there. Mastodon’s decentralised nature means that no single entity controls the entire network. Instead, users can choose from thousands of instances (servers) to join, each with its own rules, moderators, and community focus.

This federated structure offers several advantages in terms of privacy and censorship resistance. Users can select instances that align with their values and privacy preferences. If one instance faces issues or goes offline, the rest of the network remains unaffected. Moreover, instance administrators have the power to block or filter content from other instances, creating a more curated experience without compromising the overall network’s integrity.

Mastodon’s commitment to privacy is evident in its features. The platform doesn’t use algorithms to manipulate what users see, opting instead for a chronological timeline. It also offers robust privacy settings, allowing users to control the visibility of their posts and giving users the option of having their content self destruct within specific time frames.

One of Mastodon’s strengths is its stance against advertising and data mining. Without the pressure to monetize user data, the platform can focus on providing a genuine social experience. This approach has attracted a diverse community of users, from tech enthusiasts and artists to activists and journalists seeking a more ethical social media alternative.

However, Mastodon’s decentralised nature can also present challenges. The learning curve for new users can be steep as choosing an instance and understanding the federated system might be confusing at first. Additionally, the lack of a central authority can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in moderation across different instances.

Despite these challenges, Mastodon continues to grow and evolve. Its open source nature allows for constant improvements and innovations driven by the community. As more users seek alternatives to mainstream social media, Mastodon stands out as a pioneering platform in the decentralised social networking space.

You can follow my new Mastadon account HERE

Minds

The second of our 3 decentralised social media alternatives to consider is Minds Founded in 2015 by Bill and John Ottman, positions itself as a blockchain based social networking platform that emphasises free speech, privacy and user empowerment. Unlike Mastodon’s federated approach, Minds operates on a single network but leverages blockchain technology to ensure transparency and user control.

At first glance, Minds resembles a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter, offering familiar features like news feeds, messaging and content sharing but its underlying philosophy and technology set it apart from traditional social media platforms.

One of Minds most distinctive features is its tokenized reward system. Users can earn Minds tokens for their contributions to the platform, such as creating popular content, engaging with posts, or referring new users. These tokens can be used to boost content visibility, support other creators, or even be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies.

This incentive model aims to create a more engaged and active community while providing a potential revenue stream for content creators. It’s a stark contrast to the ad driven models of mainstream platforms, where user data is the primary commodity.

Minds places a strong emphasis on privacy and data protection. The platform uses end to end encryption for private messages and offers users the ability to opt out of data collection for advertising purposes. Moreover, Minds open-source code allows for independent audits, enhancing transparency and trust.

The platform’s commitment to free speech has made it popular among users concerned about censorship on other social media sites. Minds takes a minimalist approach to content moderation, intervening primarily in cases of illegal content or clear violations of community guidelines. This stance has attracted a diverse user base, including political commentators, activists and individuals seeking unrestricted expression.

However, this approach to content moderation has also led to criticism. Some argue that the platform’s hands off policy can lead to the proliferation of misinformation or extremist content. Minds has responded by implementing features like content warnings and user controlled content filtering, aiming to balance free speech with user comfort.

Minds use of blockchain technology extends beyond its token system. The platform is exploring decentralised identity solutions and ways to leverage blockchain for content verification and copyright protection. These initiatives showcase Minds commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in social networking.

While Minds offers a unique blend of familiar social media features and innovative blockchain technology, it faces challenges in user adoption and mainstream acceptance. The complexity of its token system and the learning curve associated with blockchain concepts can be barriers for some users.

Despite these hurdles, Minds continues to grow its user base and refine its offerings. As discussions around data privacy and online censorship intensify, platforms like Minds are likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of social media.

You can find me on Minds HERE

Bluesky

Bluesky has generated significant buzz in the tech community due to its ambitious goals and high profile origins. Initiated by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2019, Bluesky aims to create a decentralised standard for social media. Significantly, Dorsey left Bluesky to concentrate on his other decentralised social project Nostr, something which I’ll cover in detail in a later article. 

Unlike Mastodon and Minds, which are fully-fledged social networks, Bluesky is primarily focused on developing an open and decentralised protocol called the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (ATP). This protocol is designed to be the foundation upon which various social media applications can be built, similar to how email protocols allow different email services to interoperate.

The core idea behind Bluesky is to separate the social media experience from the underlying infrastructure. By doing so, Bluesky aims to address many of the issues plaguing current social media platforms, including centralised control, data silos, and algorithmic manipulation of user experiences.

One of the key features of the ATP is account portability. In theory, users would be able to move their accounts and data between different social media applications built on the Bluesky protocol, much like how you can change email providers without losing your email address. This portability could significantly reduce the lock-in effect that keeps users tied to specific platforms, even when they’re dissatisfied with the service.

Bluesky’s approach to content moderation is also novel. Rather than relying on a single entity to make moderation decisions, the protocol aims to enable a marketplace of moderation services. Users could potentially choose which moderation algorithms or services they want to apply to their feed, giving them more control over their online experience.

Privacy and data ownership are central to Blue Sky’s vision. By decentralising the storage and control of user data, the platform aims to reduce the risks associated with large scale data breaches and unauthorised data use. Users would have more say in how their data is used and shared across the network.

Critics argue that Bluesky’s ambitious goals may be challenging to achieve, particularly in terms of scalability and user adoption. There are also questions about how the platform will handle issues like misinformation and illegal content in a decentralised environment.

Despite these challenges, Bluesky represents a bold attempt to reimagine the foundations of social media. If successful, it could pave the way for a new generation of interoperable, user centric social platforms that prioritise privacy and freedom of expression.

My new Bluesky account is HERE for anyone who wants to follow.