Today, one of the biggest things on the social internet happened, with Elon Musk buying Twitter. So here's a little reminder of Mastodon. Not our usual news, but it's too big to be ignored. Twitter is a massive and important platform and now it's going to be wholly owned by Elon Musk. Regardless of your thoughts on Musk, it's still a little alarming.
Good news for those who do dislike Musk, as there is a great alternative available with Mastodon. Not perfect, nothing is, but it is a good option to try. It's very much like Twitter except it's free, open source, has no adverts and anyone can host their own instance. Thanks to how it's designed, people can follow and talk to each other across these instances too.
GamingOnLinux is on Mastodon, so feel free to give us a follow. If you don't care about this whole thing, you can also follow us on Twitter.
From the Press Release:
Bret Taylor, Twitter's Independent Board Chair, said, "The Twitter Board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon's proposal with a deliberate focus on value, certainty, and financing. The proposed transaction will deliver a substantial cash premium, and we believe it is the best path forward for Twitter's stockholders."
Parag Agrawal, Twitter's CEO, said, "Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world. Deeply proud of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important."
"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," said Mr. Musk. "I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it."
It will be interesting to see if Musk does open up more of Twitter.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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This is wonderful news!
Regardless, we should all be using Mastodon (or any ActivityPub service).
I get most of my GoL news through their Mastodon presence.
Regardless, we should all be using Mastodon (or any ActivityPub service).
I get most of my GoL news through their Mastodon presence.
7 Likes, Who?
I didn't realize that twitter was a cornerstone of democracy until now /s last time I checked Jamiroquai was using it to spread false information./s
4 Likes, Who?
Wonderful news! Very interested to see what they open source.
A megalomaniac billionaire who does not tolerate criticism buys twitter, what could go wrong....
As for the opem source, so what, open source twitter algorithms won't be any better or worse then if they would be closed source. He had to loan a lot of $$$ to make this happen, he will want to make a profit.
10 Likes, Who?
Deleted my Twitter & Facebook accounts many years ago at this point (I even had a Facebook account back when you had to sign up with a college/university e-mail) and glad I did.
Reminder that 'Mastodon' is not a single site, it's a software stack using a W3C protocol (ActivityPub, so the flagship/example mastodon.social site isn't any more 'Mastodon' than Yahoo Mail or GMail is all of 'E-mail' (though lots of people don't make that distinction in the latter case either).
There's a community browser for those that meet certain criteria up at https://joinmastodon.org/communities, or if you're so inclined, you can host your own - standalone, with Docker, or leverage something like YunoHost.
You can opt to keep registrations closed on your own instance, and just have your own private vanity site, do it invite-only for friends, etc., and then you and any fellow admins can fairly easily moderate as you see fit, including the fun instance-wide federation stuff - a particularly bad actor / spammy instance harassing you or your users? Add its domain to the filter, and then your server simply won't accept any of their traffic.
Or, if Mastodon specifically isn't your thing, with it being an open protocol, there's other implementations you can choose from, with of course varying levels of compatibility. You can also opt to run the Mastodon backend, but swap the front-end out for a different feel.
Unlike corporate social media being at the whims of shareholders, or the board, or private investors, advertisers, etc., we can have our own, independent communities, and choose who we associate with (or not). That is empowering by design, at the root of it all, way more than even the richest people on the planet can hope for with purchases like these.
Now, when do we figure out how to help get Matrix/Element up as a viable Discord replacement, next? ;)
Reminder that 'Mastodon' is not a single site, it's a software stack using a W3C protocol (ActivityPub, so the flagship/example mastodon.social site isn't any more 'Mastodon' than Yahoo Mail or GMail is all of 'E-mail' (though lots of people don't make that distinction in the latter case either).
There's a community browser for those that meet certain criteria up at https://joinmastodon.org/communities, or if you're so inclined, you can host your own - standalone, with Docker, or leverage something like YunoHost.
You can opt to keep registrations closed on your own instance, and just have your own private vanity site, do it invite-only for friends, etc., and then you and any fellow admins can fairly easily moderate as you see fit, including the fun instance-wide federation stuff - a particularly bad actor / spammy instance harassing you or your users? Add its domain to the filter, and then your server simply won't accept any of their traffic.
Or, if Mastodon specifically isn't your thing, with it being an open protocol, there's other implementations you can choose from, with of course varying levels of compatibility. You can also opt to run the Mastodon backend, but swap the front-end out for a different feel.
Unlike corporate social media being at the whims of shareholders, or the board, or private investors, advertisers, etc., we can have our own, independent communities, and choose who we associate with (or not). That is empowering by design, at the root of it all, way more than even the richest people on the planet can hope for with purchases like these.
Now, when do we figure out how to help get Matrix/Element up as a viable Discord replacement, next? ;)
8 Likes, Who?
Twitter is one of the worst platforms on the internet. Its algorithms and formatting are intentionally designed to destroy any nuance and promote the most disagreed with positions at the top of every reply. Yet ironically it's still an echo chamber because of the lack of dislikes and the moderation tools each user has for replies. It's basically Reddit if Reddit only sorted by controversial. Plus it runs absolutely terribly on mobile unless you use their app.
While it's not impossible, I find it hard to imagine Elon making it any worse of a platform.
While it's not impossible, I find it hard to imagine Elon making it any worse of a platform.
16 Likes, Who?
Fixing freedom of speech on Twitter? How so?
About the only things that come to mind are Trump and COVID misinformation type stuff being blocked/censored.
About the only things that come to mind are Trump and COVID misinformation type stuff being blocked/censored.
0 Likes
I haven't actively used twitter for months. I replaced it pretty much completely with mastodon, except I have gamedev only account on twitter (i really never use except to announce something)..
And I have been much happier.
Join fediverse, it's good.
And I have been much happier.
Join fediverse, it's good.
2 Likes, Who?
Regular People actually use Twitter?
I always thought it was a thing famous people would use to get noticed in/on actual news sites....
Last edited by denyasis on 25 April 2022 at 8:39 pm UTC
I always thought it was a thing famous people would use to get noticed in/on actual news sites....
Last edited by denyasis on 25 April 2022 at 8:39 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
Deleted my Twitter & Facebook accounts many years ago at this point
Never had any of them to begin with
Not even snapcrap or whatever its called!
4 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Apr 25, 2022
Great news for those of us who support free speech.
Not so great news for those who think there isn't enough censorship in the world.
Not so great news for those who think there isn't enough censorship in the world.
20 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Apr 25, 2022
I don't do social media, but any single individual controlling any large media is always concerning.
Then again, that's true for most mainstream media not called BBC. "Free speech" usually translates to the opinion of whoever owns it.
Then again, that's true for most mainstream media not called BBC. "Free speech" usually translates to the opinion of whoever owns it.
4 Likes, Who?
Arehandoro Apr 25, 2022
I don't do social media, but any single individual controlling any large media is always concerning.
Then again, that's true for most mainstream media not called BBC. "Free speech" usually translates to the opinion of whoever owns it.
The BBC is no different either.
13 Likes, Who?
"I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans.I guess it's time to delete my account...
Last edited by senpaigamer123 on 25 April 2022 at 10:30 pm UTC
3 Likes, Who?
Wonderful news! Very interested to see what they open source.
apparently they have already now open a github repo for their algorithm
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1518708233057226753?t=MVEbJd-eld6bX9pVaoFA7Q&s=19
3 Likes, Who?
Given Elon Musk's childlike understanding of free speech (basically what he likes is good, what he doesn't like is bad) things are about to go from bad to worse on Twitter.>basically what he likes is good, what he doesn't like is bad
That is exactly the mindset of a majority of Twitter users and exactly what is wrong with Twitter.
11 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Apr 25, 2022
"I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans.I guess it's time to delete my account...
Won't help you. He wants to authenticate all HUMANS, not all Twitter users. :P
3 Likes, Who?
Hmm Mastodon to far leaning to one side itself which is why I have refused to use it as I have Twitter. Political crap drives me away from any of these platforms. be nice to have a place that is not a echo chamber.
Last edited by tohur on 25 April 2022 at 10:54 pm UTC
Last edited by tohur on 25 April 2022 at 10:54 pm UTC
8 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Apr 25, 2022
Political crap drives me away from any of these platforms.
Totally... Zealots in both camps that repeat the prefab craps from lobbies and not realizing they are being manipulated, thinking they know better. The waaaaayyyyyy too loud minority that's occupying 95% of the public space turned me away from social platforms, a while ago.
I have a Facebook account and barely use it anymore. Never used any of the other platforms... Aside from Twitter and Facebook, I would have a hard time naming them.
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
-Socrates
Last edited by Mohandevir on 25 April 2022 at 11:36 pm UTC
8 Likes, Who?
Political crap drives me away from any of these platforms.
Totally... Zealots in both camps that repeat the prefab craps from lobbies and not realising they are being manipulated, thinking they know better. The waaaaayyyyyy too loud minority that's occupying 95% of the public space turned me away from social platforms, a while ago.
I have a Facebook account and barely use it anymore. Never used any of the other platforms... Aside from Twitter and Facebook, I would have a hard time naming them.
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
-Socrates
yep Zealots on both sides are what drives me away from any platform. I don't lean either way but I don't mind convos with people but once ya start trying to shove your beliefs down peoples throats and censoring everyone doesn't agree then there is a problem
4 Likes, Who?
Musk buying Twitter gives me hope. Twitter was a social media platform that turned partisan. Musk is the biggest chance for it to go back to being a neutral platform. If it doesn't, it likely won't be worse than it is now. If he turns it into a partisan platform for the other party, then at least there will be one platform that's for a different party, a different ideology, compared to all the other big platforms that are all partisan for the same side.
14 Likes, Who?
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