A new initiative is kicking off today with the goal of taking advantage of the growing popularity of the fediverse, also known as the open social web. The fediverse is a network of interconnected social networking services that operate on the ActivityPub protocol. The project, known as the Social Web Foundation, is co-founded by Evan Prodromou, who is also the co-author and current editor of ActivityPub. The foundation’s main focus is to expand the fediverse, enhance the user experience, educate the public about the fediverse, and work with policymakers to promote its growth.
The timing for this initiative seems ideal, as Meta recently integrated ActivityPub into its new app, Threads. This move has attracted over 200 million potential new users to the fediverse, overshadowing the user base of other federated apps like Mastodon. Mastodon currently boasts approximately 7.49 million registered users, with fewer than a million active users each month. The involvement of major companies like Meta has sparked interest from other organizations looking to tap into this expanding user base.
The Social Web Foundation has secured backing from Meta and other significant implementors of the ActivityPub protocol, including Flipboard, Ghost, and Mastodon. The Ford Foundation has also provided a substantial grant to support the foundation’s work, bringing their total financial backing close to a million dollars.
One of the key objectives of the Social Web Foundation is to simplify the user experience within the fediverse. While platforms like Mastodon offer services similar to Twitter, their decentralized nature can be confusing for new users. To address this issue, the foundation plans to create an alternative onboarding experience to guide users through the initial setup process.
Moreover, the foundation aims to raise awareness about the various federated apps available, as many users may already be part of the fediverse without realizing it. By educating users about the benefits of federation, the foundation hopes to encourage more people to participate in the open social web.
Additionally, the Social Web Foundation will focus on supporting services that are joining the fediverse, such as Ghost, which allows for long-form content. Enhancing the user experience for these platforms involves addressing various considerations, such as attachment limits and image embedding.
User education is another critical area of focus for the foundation. They plan to provide guidance not only to individuals setting up their accounts but also to media organizations, universities, startups, and large enterprises on how to engage with the fediverse. Case studies from organizations like ProPublica, NPR, and the BBC will be used to demonstrate the benefits of participating in the open social web.
The foundation will also collaborate with accelerators and programs to educate entrepreneurs about the advantages of federation for developing new social apps. Quarterly releases of educational materials tailored to different user groups are expected to be rolled out by the foundation.
The Social Web Foundation is led by an experienced team, including Research Director Evan Prodromou, Executive Director Mallory Knodel, and Product Director Tom Coates. With their combined expertise and resources, the foundation is poised to make a significant impact on the growth and accessibility of the fediverse.
