Mastodawn

I have a new article out together with @rwg : "What is 'alternative' about 'alternative social media'?"

It is published in Résaux, in their special issue on Alternative Internets edited by Stéphane Couture and @guillaume https://shs.cairn.info/journal-reseaux-2025-6?lang=en

The article is available in French (translated by Pauline Côté and edited by @guillaume) and English: https://shs.cairn.info/journal-reseaux-2025-6-page-183?lang=en

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In the piece we look back on the last 15 years of alternative social media (ASM) research to reflect on how scholars have differently understood alternative social media such as the #Fediverse

Early beginnings focused on ASM as something based on F/LOSS, decentralisation and anti-commerical politics. Later came understandings of alternative as in "alt-right" social media, leading to the more contemporary focus on issues of governance. Throughout the piece we complicate such understandings to eventually propose a working definition which sees ASM as relational, emergent, and dynamic. In addition, we argue ASM scholars must use a situated perspective when studying ASM.

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𝓻𝓻𝓪 2h ago

@rwg @guillaume

This paper is probably useful for those that:

1) Are unfamiliar with ASM studies and look for an overview of the field. The paper references many works across disciplines that touch on ASM. We build on the @altsocialmedianet bibliography: https://www.socialmediaalternatives.org/bib.html

2) Are looking for ways to understand how to engage with the "alternative" in ASM and how others have done so.

3) Are looking for a working definition as a point of departure. We realize its not perfect, but therefore we stress its a working definition.

Hope you enjoy it!

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