Mastodon is more popular because more people know that it exists. The fact that it was boosted by Japanese private interests and pedophiles is not unrelated. Diaspora enjoyed a wave of popularity initially because it existed in the public discourse, for other reasons. And a third platform could have its moment of glory, thanks to another random circumstance. Both celebrities, Mastodon and diaspora, rely on their notoriety and work against the concept of federation, behaving like private interests trying to protect their branding.

A change in mindset from within, where we would realize that we are unknown and work against each other, would open a new era.