So often I'm seeing posts or comments on platforms such as Reddit or YouTube, wondering where people will be able to converse or share information once (insert controversial group here) gets cut due to being "unsuitable for advertising", "against the company's interests", or "harming profits". Gangnam Style comment section? C.R.E.A.M.? A Discord group?
Decentralized social media is the answer my mind goes to first. While not exactly stress tested, the technology is here, and has been here for several years. It's up to us, the people, to utilize it, to harness it, and to protect it as best as possible. Create solid video content? Start uploading to d.tube as well as YouTube. Run a successful blog? Copy/paste your writings on Ecency or Hive. Big into the tech side of things? Learn how to run a node, then post a tutorial for newbie users to get started. Admin or mod on another site? Start a community. The faster we can grow the network and the content within, the better.
Of course, no system is perfect. Shills gonna shill, after all. There's also the risk of posts and/or comments being downvoted to oblivion by swarms of hedge fund lackeys. But once built up strong enough, I'd like to think a massive network of nodes would function with more honesty and transparency than a handful of centralized servers that can have "technical difficulties" at the most opportune times for those in control. If you feel I'm mistaken in my ideas, by all means, enlighten me. Let's work together to determine what solution would work best at providing an online outlet for that which is important to us.
With the word out about a Reddit IPO, I'm ready as ever to see more people begin testing the decentralized waters.
The swaying of public opinion has always been important to those in power. Corporations already hold the keys to the mass media, they have for decades. They've sunk their claws into the likes of social media as well. As far as I can tell, decentralization is the best bet against the extinguishing of our voices and ideas. What's your take?