The Fediverse is an ecosystem of social media platforms that are connection via open protocol which is known as ActivityPub. For example, you post to one platform and your followers on another see it.
Over the past year, you’ve likely encountered the term “Fediverse” in various contexts. Perhaps you’ve come across it in tech discussions, read about it on platforms, or seen it mentioned by veteran internet users reminiscing about the early days of the web.
Some may have even forwarded you the “Protocols, Not Platforms” article, aiming to impress you with their knowledge of the evolving digital landscape. The Fediverse is akin to essential but often overlooked elements of our daily lives.
Things like the HTTP protocol or the balance of gases in the air we breathe. While it might not seem crucial to understand on a day-to-day basis, the Fediverse has the potential to significantly reshape the internet.
As such, it’s worth gaining a basic understanding of what it is and why it matters. So, what exactly is the Fediverse? It’s an interconnected ecosystem of social platforms built on an open protocol known as ActivityPub.
Fediverse allows users to transfer data
This protocol enables users to transfer their content, data, and followers across different networks seamlessly. But what does that mean in practical terms? Imagine a scenario where platforms like X, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook were all interoperable.
You could post anything on one platform, and it would automatically be visible to your followers on all the others. If you decided to switch from one platform to another, you could take all your content, followers, and data with you without losing anything.
However, the Fediverse isn’t just one new social network; it’s a collection of many interconnected networks, with more being developed. The key innovation here is interoperability. Instead of being confined to one platform.
With your data and connections locked in, the Fediverse allows for a fluid exchange of information across different platforms. This is a significant departure from the current model where each platform exists in its own silo.
The Fediverse isn’t new
This concept isn’t some trendy, newfangled idea. It’s rooted in a decades-old vision of how the internet should function and is built on a protocol that has been evolving since around 2014. Why is this gaining attention now? In recent years, there’s been a growing awareness.
The awareness of the instability of traditional social platforms. For example, after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, many users who had built communities and connections on the platform found themselves suddenly alienated as the platform underwent drastic changes.
Millions of creators who invested years into growing their presence on these platforms are realising just how fragile their online presence can be. Algorithm changes, shifting company priorities, and new features can rapidly render their efforts obsolete.
This instability has driven people to seek platforms where they aren’t tied down. They want the freedom to move their content and followers to a new platform without losing their online community. The Fediverse offers this flexibility.
More flexibility through the Fediverse
By ensuring that all your digital assets remain under your control, rather than being locked within a single app. Just as email remains a stable and enduring tool for maintaining an audience, the Fediverse promises similar stability.
It does this by allowing users to retain ownership of their content and connections, with platforms merely acting as facilitators. In essence, the Fediverse represents a shift towards a more open, user-centric internet where control and ownership are returned to the individual.
