JustinHanagan @ JustinHanagan @kbin.social

I write [StayGrounded.online](https://www.staygrounded.online/) a newslette

---

Read more

Posts

18

Comments

51

Joined

2 yr. ago

You can just click "no thanks" to the subscription box, but I've copy-pasted the full guide (short version) here for you:

1. Download the Mastodon app from the Apple app store or Play store.
2. Create an account (just like Twitter or any other social media)
3. Follow people, and get posting.

It's a bit of a joke post because a lot of the coverage around Mastodon gets really into the weeds with Federation, ActivityPub, etc. and journalists often describe it as "too techie" for "normal" users.

Well, "normal" users don't care about the technical backend of Twitter or Facebook so it always felt a bit disingenuous to me it was presented this way. Hopefully my post can dispell some of the confusion!

Thanks lol

💯

The "mall" analogy works for Reddit because the point of it existing is to buy things there. Lemmy instances and communities only exist because people want to make space for conversation. If spaces are empty, I see that as a sign that someone, somewhere cares so much that they will happy build the space and wait for others to arrive.

Exactly. From the article:

As far as Reddit’s fate is concerned I predict that what will happen to it is the same thing that is happening to Twitter and has already happened to Facebook and frankly, actual shopping malls. The business side of things will churn along divorced from the content which will become ever more generic and culturally irrelevant. The users who stay on Reddit will be of the unadventurous variety, not inclined to make waves or analyze their habits.

You are most welcome!

Lemmy devs actually publish their goals/methods for "hot" and "active" sorting here. You may find it of value!

The important difference, imo, is that Fediverse users have final say over the sorting of their own feeds. Reddit/Twitter/etc prioritize engagement, not actual value added to the user.

The essay is not about suggesting a dichotomy. The article is about how corporations sort their content feeds based on maximizing profitability, and the subsequent consequences that result for the end user (humans) in the form of endless distractions.

I personally am a big advocate of "no entertainment on mobile devices" whatsoever, but that said- I've played around with this modified version of Instagram and it's pretty cool. I don't think it changes the sort to chronological, but it does remove suggested content and allows users to turn off stories, reels and more (use at your own risk, I have no idea the safety of this).

Well said, your comment reminded me of this essay I recently read by @carl that has a great opening analogy:

Imagine all the squares, streets, parks, and venues you visit or live by in are owned by just one or a few companies. They not only own all these places but also determine what they are to be used for, and who can use them. They decide who can be there and who cannot. Mostly, it's free rent, for these companies finance everything through advertising.

Because of this, all places are designed so that everyone will consume the advertising. In the town hall, the agenda of the municipal council is adapted according to the length of advertising breaks. In the park, you can hear advertisements over the loudspeakers at regular intervals. At the playground, there's advertising targeted at the very youngest, and at the retirement home, ads for the very oldest.

Yes exactly! It's much more "media" and not much "social" these days.

This... is actually a great idea. Memes should be fun. If they're not, that's probably a sign I should put the phone down.