Chris TrottierJan 26, 2023

The Financial Times is shutting down their Mastodon instance (alphaville.club).

Their reason? Security, liability, and cost.

With all due respect, I believe they went about their instance the wrong way:

1. Keep your instance moderated, you're less likely liable
2. Keep your instance closed to registrations, you're more secure
2. Keep your instance light, it's inexpensive

Also: Financial Times' site runs in WordPress. Why not use WordPress as an instance?

https://www.ft.com/content/8d995a24-d77c-4208-a3a6-603d8788ebcd

Client Challenge

Show threadChris TrottierJan 26, 2023

If Financial Times simply installed this plugin on their current website, they perhaps wouldn't feel the need to shut down their Fediverse instance.

https://wordpress.org/plugins/activitypub/

ActivityPub

Connect your site to the Open Social Web and let millions of users follow, share, and interact with your content from Mastodon, Pixelfed, and more.

WordPress.org
Show threadChris TrottierJan 26, 2023

This is the problem with a "Mastodon is the Fediverse" narrative:

Mastodon can't be all things to all people.

It's certainly not a suitable tool for journalism.

The Press has unique demands, and therefore requires a unique featureset.

Show threadFediThing has moved!Jan 26, 2023

@atomicpoet

There are ones that have done a good job, such as @TexasObserver which has its own instance for staff and paper.

Show threadTexas Observer
@FediThing @atomicpoet it doesn't make any sense why a publication would run an open instance like that! Seems like a bad choice from the start.
Jan 26, 2023 at 1:13amWeb
Show threadFediThing has moved!Jan 26, 2023

@TexasObserver @atomicpoet

Yeah, very bizarre!

You're showing them how to do it properly! 💪

Show threadMishaJan 27, 2023
@DeGroene misschien interessante thread. @TexasObserver lijkt me een mooi voorbeeld.