What Is the Fediverse? A Beginner's Guide to the Decentralized Social Web

 

Ever feel like your social media feed has become an echo chamber or that your data and privacy are compromised? 

The solution could be joining the Fediverse, a decentralized network of social platforms that put you back in control. 

The Fediverse might sound futuristic, but it's really just a bunch of mini social networks that can talk to each other. 

On the Fediverse, you choose which networks to join and what data to share. You can follow friends on different networks or only join one network. 

The best part is your data stays private and no single company owns your network or profits off your information. 

If you're looking for an alternative to the big tech social giants, the Fediverse could be for you. Ready to take back control of your social experience? 

Here's everything you need to know to get started on the Fediverse.

What Is the Fediverse?

The Fediverse is the open-source decentralized social network. 

Instead of centralized platforms like Twitter or Facebook where one company controls your data and content, the Fediverse is made up of thousands of independent servers (called instances) that are all connected and able to interact with each other.

On the Fediverse, you sign up for an account on any instance you like, and you can follow and interact with users on other instances. It's all powered by open protocols and software like ActivityPub and Mastodon that enable this cross-instance communication.

 Some popular instances are Mastodon.social, Pleroma.social, and Misskey.io.

Using the Fediverse means:

You're in control of your data and identity. You can export your account and move it to another instance at any time.

There's no algorithmic sorting of content. Your home feed shows posts from people you follow in strict chronological order.

There are no ads. Instances are run by non-profits, companies, and individuals focused on providing a good user experience.

It's open source. Anyone is free to run their own instance, and developers are building new ways to extend and improve the network.

The Fediverse may feel unfamiliar at first, but for many the benefits of an open, decentralized social web outweigh the learning curve.

 Give it a try - you might find a new digital home!

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How the Fediverse Works

The Fediverse is a network of decentralized social networks, microblogging services and content hosting platforms. 

Instead of having one central server, like Twitter or Facebook, the Fediverse is made up of thousands of independent servers that can connect and share information.

How it works

The Fediverse uses open standards and protocols like ActivityPub to allow different platforms to communicate with each other.

 So if you post something on one network, like Mastodon, friends on other networks like PeerTube or PixelFed can see and interact with your post too.

All these individual networks are called “instances.” You sign up for an account on an instance, which has its own rules and moderation policies. Instances can then choose to connect to or disconnect from other instances.

Want a tight-knit community? Join a smaller instance.

Prefer little to no moderation? There are instances for that.

Want to avoid harassment and abuse? Pick an instance with strong anti-abuse policies.

The federated approach means no single company owns your data or dominates the network. Your information remains under your control and you can switch instances at any time, taking your followers and content with you.

The Fediverse continues to grow as more people seek alternatives to large corporate social networks. While still relatively small, the Fediverse offers an open and privacy-friendly way to stay connected with friends across the decentralized social web.

Popular Fediverse Software and Networks

There are a few popular software options and networks that make up the Fediverse. Let's explore some of the major players.

Mastodon

Mastodon is an open-source social network server. Anyone can run their own Mastodon instance and set of rules. Most Mastodon servers are themed around a specific interest or region. You sign up for an account on a particular server, but can follow and interact with users on any other server.

Mastodon works a lot like Twitter, with short posts (called “toots”), hashtags, and a follow model.

However, Mastodon is decentralized and ad-free. There are over 3 million Mastodon accounts spread across thousands of servers.

PeerTube

PeerTube is an open-source video hosting platform in the Fediverse. 

Anyone can run a PeerTube “instance” to host videos, and instances can peer together to share content. Viewers can follow channels across instances.

PeerTube aims to be an alternative to centralized video platforms like YouTube. Uploaded videos are replicated across multiple instances, so no single server hosts a video. 

This makes censorship and video removal very difficult.

PixelFed

PixelFed is a Fediverse-based photo sharing service, similar to Instagram. Users can upload photos, apply filters, comment, like and repost photos across PixelFed instances.

PixelFed emphasizes privacy, with no way to track users across instances or gather data to sell for advertising. Photos are licensed under flexible Creative Commons licenses. 

Over 200,000 accounts and 1 million photos have been shared on PixelFed so far.

Friendica

Friendica is an open-source social network server for both public posts and private communication. It allows you to connect with friends and family without the data-gathering and privacy issues of large social networks.

Friendica works similarly to Facebook, with profiles, news feeds, likes, comments, groups, and events. However, Friendica is decentralized and each server is independently run. 

You can follow friends on other Friendica servers and interact freely.

Joining the Fediverse - Getting Started

So you've heard about the Fediverse and want to dive in. Great! Joining the Fediverse is easy and open to anyone. Here are the basic steps to get started:

Choose an Instance

The Fediverse is made up of many different servers, called "instances", that are connected together. You'll need to pick an instance to join. 

Some popular instances are Mastodon, Pleroma, and Misskey. Each has a different community and features, so explore and see which one interests you.

Once you choose an instance, you'll create an account on that server. Your username will be your @[email protected]. For example, if you join Mastodon, your username might be @[email protected].

Set Up Your Profile

After signing up with an instance, fill out your profile. Add a photo, your location, interests, bio, or whatever you like. Your profile helps others in the Fediverse learn about you.

Follow People

Search for people or hashtags you're interested in and follow them. Look for individuals, news sources, activists, or organizations. 

Follow people across different instances to see the diversity of the Fediverse.

Post and Like

Share updates, photos, links, and more. Engage with others by liking and commenting on their posts as well. Join the conversation by using hashtags to help people discover your posts.

Explore the Fediverse

Once you get the hang of your chosen instance, start exploring the wider Fediverse.

 You can follow people on other servers and see their posts as well. Some instances have special features like image filters or gaming integrations. Poke around and see what's out there!

The Fediverse has a lot to offer. By choosing an instance, setting up your profile, following others, posting and liking updates, and exploring all it has to offer, you'll be immersed in no time.

 Welcome to the social web—your way!  any other questions ?