Annalee Newitz 🍜May 12, 2023
Here is my article about #Mastodon, the #Fediverse, and federalism for The Atlantic. I did NOT write the headline, which suggests the article is about Ben Franklin (never mentioned in the article) and Bluesky (mentioned a couple of times). LOL but I'm still really excited for you to read this!!! https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/05/social-media-centralism-fediverse/674041/
Social Media Has Entered Its Chaos Era

Facebook and Twitter seem less relevant by the day. They may be replaced by new “federated” platforms.

The Atlantic
Show threadRoy Brander🍁

@annaleen

Any mention of "money" as in "not sure this free thing will last, in the presence of Money"... all such comments should note the Wikipedia, and its amazing success.

May 12, 2023 at 10:53pmWeb
Show threadAnnalee Newitz 🍜May 12, 2023
@RoyBrander wikipedia is a large nonprofit and does fundraisers every year. that is a financial model.
Show threadRoy Brander🍁May 13, 2023

@annaleen

Right, it is, it's a charity, so it has that thing that 'ensnared the early web: Money'. They have $155M a year coming in, though they are also, (I think) angry-billionaire proof. I just don't see a risk of Wikipedia becoming "enshittified" for money or politics, but - they can make payroll for 700 and keep running indefinitely.

Show threadStrypeyMay 14, 2023

@RoyBrander
> I just don't see a risk of Wikipedia becoming "enshittified" for money or politics, but - they can make payroll for 700 and keep running indefinitely

There's a trade-off here. The WP loses resilience in some ways by being centralized, but it's easier for them to attract and manage donations. The fediverse is more resilient as a platform - it will never all go down at once - but each component part has to struggle for funding independently.

@annaleen

Show threadRoy Brander🍁May 15, 2023

@strypey @annaleen

Thank-you both. So, Wikimedia and a fistful of Linux-related projects all manage with charity, basically. There will be a cost-level where donated labour and mere charity are sufficient funding.

Much of the Fediverse may need only that - a little guilt-tripping with posts from your server admins that resemble Wale's pleas on the wikipedia main page.

Then there's the PBS model - corporate sponsorship for a modest acknowledgement, i.e. minimally-annoying ad.

Show threadStrypeyMay 15, 2023

@RoyBrander
> Much of the Fediverse may need only that - a little guilt-tripping with posts from your server admins

I've yet to see a server shut down for lack of donations to cover upstream costs. Usually it's a lack of sysadmin or mod volunteers. More money may help with this but doesn't always. Then there's all the software dev and standards work, which is covered by a combo of voluntarism and funding grants. Again, more money may help with this but doesn't always.

(1/2)

@annaleen

Show threadStrypeyMay 15, 2023

@RoyBrander
A Fedi Foundation has been floated, either as a standalone charity or under the umbrella of an existing Free Code charity like FSF or SFC. The politics of this would involve extreme cat-herding.

(2/2)

@annaleen

Show threadAnnalee Newitz 🍜May 14, 2023
@RoyBrander I don't think Wikipedia will be ruined by money, but that wasn't my point in the article. My point was that every social media platform has to support itself somehow, and that defederated media is at a stage where people are starting to ask how that will work. I pointed out that some Mastodon servers have chosen a donation model, while others chose co-ops. Bluesky, otoh, has refused to say what their funding model might be.