How to Kill a Decentralised Network (such as the Fediverse) écrit par Ploum, Lionel Dricot, ingénieur, écrivain de science-fiction, développeur de logiciels libres.

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/719121

This blog post by Ploum, who was part of the original XMPP efforts long ago, describes how Google killed one great federated service, which shows why the Fediverse must not give Meta the chance

  • Ulu-Mulu-no-die@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    1 year ago

    TIL what the GAFAM empire is.

    Besides that, I think the following quote is key:

    Google realized that most XMPP interactions were between Google Talk users anyway. They didn’t care about respecting a protocol they were not 100% in control. So they pulled the plug and announced they would not be federated anymore

    I never used Google Talk nor XMPP but I gather XMPP didn’t have enough users to sustain itself.

    Chat systems (and Twitter/Facebook similar platforms) need a very high amount of users to be “sustainable” because they are centered on individuals.

    The fediverse doesn’t need that many because is centered around meaningful discussions, having too many is even counterproductive because discussions derail into shitposting (look at reddit).

    I agree with the blogger when they say

    We should not try to include as many people as we can at all cost. We should be honest and ensure people join the Fediverse because they share some of the values behind it

    Mainly because if we did, lemmy would go down the drain as much as reddit has done the last few years.

    I want Meta blocked because I don’t want their shit coming over here, much more than being worried about them trying to extinguish the fediverse, tho you can be sure they will indeed try.

    • persolb@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      The fediverse doesn’t need that many because is centered around meaningful discussions

      I’m not sure I agree. I think a small user base results in /news /politics /[whatever big group] being better… but results in things like r/fire’s predecessor being much quieter.

      I hope I’m wrong though. /patientgamers seems just as busy.

    • nomadjoanne@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      1 year ago

      Very true. Normies are gonna be normies no matter what. That does not make them bad people but it does mean that we probably don’t want them in droves over here. It would make the Fediverse much more vulnerable to being taken over by something by a centralized, corporate`` service.

      • Willdrick@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        The main drive for normies is avoiding friction. From chat platforms to the phone brand or OS, they simply don’t want to learn something new, unless “everyone’s using it”.

        The only reason that people stick to GAFAM is because it’s made super convenient, no learning required, and if there’s a problem or limitation, they can bypass it for a few bucks per month.

        I’m all in for a decentralized self-hosted future, but the barrier to entry right now is too high for the average normie.

        • nomadjoanne@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Do you think a low barrier to entry would be a good thing though? I feel as though that would invite politics, censorships, free speech discussions and the like into the Fediverse.

          Normies, culturally, will still be normies. I know various fandom subcultures have suffered sad fates like this.

          I don’t know, I think a usability/freedom balance needs to be delicately handled.