Note for other Instance Admins and Mods:

#MstdnGames has been flooded with bot registrations leaving what appear to be an effortful ‘reason’ for wanting to join our instance. They have all been variations of the this:

“I'm looking for a community that actively engages with leftist ideas and values solidarity, mutual aid, and anti-oppression principles. I want to participate in discussions and share perspectives in a space that is already oriented toward the values I support.”

This is just one example, I’ve seen a dozen variations of this in just the last week alone.

Just a friendly warning that bots seem to be submitting more sophisticated entries to try to get past manual screenings for new user accounts.

Stop thinking that the Fediverse needs to compete with corporate owned social media.

It doesn't.

Mastodon isn't in competition with X or Threads. PeerTube isn't in competition with YouTube. PixelFed is not in competition with Instagram. Friendica is not in competition with Facebook.

The Fediverse serves a different function then all of the billionaire funded social medias. The Fedi isn't meant to create a revenue flow for investors. It isn't meant to turn you into a product where your privacy is stripped from you.

The Fediverse is meant to give the USER control. It's meant to protect the disenfranchised. Give power to the people. Be safe from profit exploitation.

The Fediverse and corporate social media couldn't be more different. Trying to put them in competition is like trying to compare a toilet to a flower. Sure you can shit and piss on a flower, but the toilet will always stink and the flower will continue to grow.

ProPublica, more than any other major journalism organization, understands the value its audience can bring to the journalism -- and acts on that. Examples:

https://link.propublica.net/view/5f0a08d7f32ac25d935e7bcarakxh.785/55761ea1

Irregular reminder to please CW flashing lights and fast colours changes to keep Fedi accessible. /soft

Had a seizure yesterday while checking my TL, and haven't been able to do anything all day due to how exhausting tonic clonic seizures are.

It'd be really nice if you could be careful with it, especially if we're mutuals. Not only for me, but for all seizure prone folks around.

Thanks if you care! Sending love and strength, if you want any.

Rep. Becca Balint is a frank and fearless fighter in the House. She’s one to watch!

Link: https://xcancel.com/acyn/status/2057204124664676829

Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device https://www.thatprivacyguy.com/blog/chrome-silent-nano-install/

> No consent dialog. No opt-out UI. Re-installs itself if the user removes it manually.

That is the true definition of malware.

The public increasingly hates Flock, the odious surveillance operation, but public officials don't care. They pretend to dislike the grotesque abuses of privacy, but they keep renewing (and starting)contracts with the sleazy company. If it's in your town, raise hell.

https://www.404media.co/city-learns-flock-accessed-cameras-in-childrens-gymnastics-room-as-a-sales-pitch-demo-renews-contract-anyway/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter

The sooner we stop burning fossil fuels, the better it is for everyone.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/29/babies-exposed-to-air-pollution-during-pregnancy-take-longer-to-learn-to-speak-research-finds?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu_env