Aral BalkanApr 21, 2023

Dear @Gargron,

Please reevaluate your decision to incentivise centralisation on mastodon.social in the official app.

This is the sort of design a VC-funded startup would implement, not a non-profit acting in the interests of a healthy commons.

I’m sure you don’t want mastodon.social to become mini-Twitter and you don’t want to become mini-Musk.

That’s not how we win this.

More instances, not larger instances is the key.

https://mastodon.ar.al/@feditips@mstdn.social/110233282943673558

#decentralisation #fediverse #staySmall

Fedi.Tips (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image The official Mastodon app is doing something new which is potentially very dangerous to the existence of Mastodon and the Fediverse. The official Mastodon app now prompts users to join mastodon.social by default, when previously it prompted them to pick a server. If you're new this may sound harmless, but let me explain. The entire point of this place is to be a social network spread out on as many servers as possible (the reasons are here: https://fedi.tips/why-is-the-fediverse-on-so-many-separate-servers/). (1/6)

Mastodon 🐘
Show threadTroed SångbergApr 21, 2023

@aral @Gargron Actually, when combining this decision with the recent trademark one of not allowing other instances to be named *.mastodon.* there might be a case for questioning Gargron's motives here.

... but I think this is the right move to enable frictionless signups. However, it's now critically important to implement the one-click _complete_ account migration between servers as well.

Basically mastodon.social needs to encourage users to move on from spawn.

#Mastodon

Show threadBenjaminApr 21, 2023

@troed @aral @Gargron I agree. Though as nefarious as both those decisions can appear, I think it's clearly about trying to reduce the friction for new users - even for the trademark changes. The biggest complaints during November last year were about picking servers and people ending up on 'mastodon' urls that aren't moderated.

So I can empathize with the intention here.

Show threadNour Agha Apr 21, 2023
@BenjaminNelan @troed @aral @Gargron It's exactly what the signup process for Matrix is like where the default server is matrix.org.
Show threadBenjaminApr 21, 2023

@Nour @troed @aral @Gargron To be fair, we have seen Matrix’s main server end up fairly full as a result.

Maybe a more @pixelfed approach would be better? Main server is the first option but other options aren’t behind a secondary action.

Show threadNour Agha Apr 21, 2023
@BenjaminNelan @troed @aral @Gargron @pixelfed True, I personally use the Mozilla (chat.mozilla.org) homeserver. I think on Mastodon the biggest UX issue is those not knowing what server to choose when signing up, so presenting a default/fallback option while displaying other good options to at least pique enough interest and make users aware is the best way to go.
Show threadNour Agha Apr 21, 2023
@BenjaminNelan @troed @aral @Gargron @pixelfed So instead of being lost on 'here are tens of different servers to choose from before you join' it would instead be 'here is the main server and all you have to do is click join, but there are some good other options here if you'd like'
Show threadGabe KangasApr 22, 2023
@aral @Nour Here lies the problem. You think of one server being the “main server”. You have a hierarchy. When there’s a hierarchy it can (will) be abused. Don’t hand over control to anybody. Take it for yourself.
Show threadLaurens HofApr 23, 2023
@[email protected] @aral @Nour I fully agree with that idea (otherwise I wouldnt be doing what Im doing obviously), but I think the difficult part is about how and when do you explain this to new people.

Like, is the signup flow from an app really the best place to explain this? I think its hard to say that it is, but at the same time, lock-in and complacency will still mean that lots of people end up on m.s.

Personally, I think the best solution would be to get even more competing easy signup flows. Think this problem will get less relevant when things like mozilla.social launches and people can easily end up on their server with a SSO firefox account.
Show threadNour Agha Apr 23, 2023
@laurenshof @aral @gabek Agree with this. I think practically instance randomization can be a bit confusing or intimidating. It makes sense that when you download the official app, people see a familiar, 'official' looking mastodon.social recommended. The dispersion mainly happens when each app/client/website offers their own default server, and the server people land on would depend on how they joined or were introduced to the fediverse from.
Show threadNour Agha Apr 23, 2023
@laurenshof @aral @gabek Regardless, instance randomization is perhaps something third party clients can offer. But it'd make sense that apps that are affiliated with their own instance offer a default option for the type of experience they're trying to curate. Many companies will have their own app/instance in the future and will offer SSO for their own instances, so dispersion will not be an issue long term IMO.
Show threadNour Agha 
@laurenshof @aral @gabek Most people will also end up on a cluster of large company-related instances while more advanced users or hobbyists will be dispersed all over smaller instances.
Apr 23, 2023 at 12:57pmWeb