This paper examines the potential of the Fediverse, a federated network of social media and content platforms, to counter the centralization and dominance of commercial platforms on the social Web. We gather evidence from the technology powering the Fediverse (especially the ActivityPub protocol), current statistical data regarding Fediverse user distribution over instances, and the status of two older, similar, decentralized technologies: e-mail and the Web. Our findings suggest that Fediverse will face significant challenges in fulfilling its decentralization promises, potentially hindering its ability to positively impact the social Web on a large scale.

cross-posted from: https://links.hackliberty.org/post/2559706

Abstract

This paper examines the potential of the Fediverse, a federated network of social media and content platforms, to counter the centralization and dominance of commercial platforms on the social Web. We gather evidence from the technology powering the Fediverse (especially the ActivityPub protocol), current statistical data regarding Fediverse user distribution over instances, and the status of two older, similar, decentralized technologies: e-mail and the Web. Our findings suggest that Fediverse will face significant challenges in fulfilling its decentralization promises, potentially hindering its ability to positively impact the social Web on a large scale.

Some challenges mentioned in the paper:

  • Discoverability as there is no central or unified index
  • Complicated moderation efforts due to its decentralized nature
  • Interoperability between instances of different types (e.g., Lemmy and Funkwhale)
  • Concentration on a small number of large instances
  • The risk of commercial capture by Big Tech

What are your thoughts on this? And how could we make the Fediverse a better place for all to stay?

  • kbal@fedia.io
    12·
    2 months ago

    Limited discoverability, complicated and controversial moderation, constantly changing interoperability problems, large instance users off in their own silo — it’s all part of the fedi charm, really.

  • pcouy@lemmy.pierre-couy.fr
    11·
    2 months ago

    I did not read the link, but two of my biggest concerns do not appear in the summary you provided :

    • the burden of hosting an ActivityPub enabled service is often duplicated for each instance instead of being split between them (for example, my Lemmy instance has a large picture folder and database because it is replicating all posts from communities I’m subscribed to)
    • it’s a privacy nightmare. All instance admins now have as much spying power as the single centralized service it is replacing

    (Edit: typo)

    • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
      1·
      2 months ago

      The privacy point is mitigated by the unfettered ability to create anonymous accounts. Unless the admins are able to ID personal IP addresses, everyone who didn’t use their real name is anonymous for all intents and purposes.

  • infinitevalence@discuss.onlineEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    I enjoyed the read, and it leaves some interesting questions for further research as well as asks some interesting questions about the future. Ideally ActivityPub will grow to a point where big tech cant own it but we will see. For now I will enjoy my slice of the free good old web, with the rest of my fellow neckbeards and greybeards.