squirrel

Mastodon: @cwebber@social.coop

The co-author of the ActivityPub protocol and co-founder of Spritely Institute, building the next generation of decentralized networked technology, delivers a critique of the Fediverse from one of its co-architects.

The Fediverse's real strength is participatory structure: any one server can fail and the network keeps running. But it isn't decentralized enough to survive the threats coming for it, including age-verification laws rooted in anti-queer politics, hardware-level lockdown of what you can run on your own computer, and data-centre concentration that turns information infrastructure into a kill switch. The answer is to push further: content-addressed messaging, peer-to-peer chat with no host to subpoena, and technology built around joy and empowerment rather than defensive compliance.

Mastodon: @evan@cosocial.ca

The co-author of the ActivityPub protocol, research director at the Social Web Foundation, sometimes called "The Father of the Fediverse," and author of the first-ever post on the social web in May 2008, delivers a first-principles introduction to the Fediverse.

Social networks are people and their connections. Yet the platforms that host those connections have concentrated power, stripped APIs, and optimized feeds for addiction rather than relationship. Quitting doesn't work because Metcalfe's Law keeps you tied to where your friends are; new monolithic alternatives can't overcome that gravity either. ActivityPub's answer is meaningful choice: different business models, local ownership, open APIs, and algorithms that serve you, reached by developers building, users participating, media co-publishing, and policymakers mandating interoperability.

The 3rd Berlin Fediverse Day is a networking event for people in the Fediverse. With talks, workshops and networking opportunities, we want to spread knowledge about the Fediverse, promote creative solutions and strengthen the exchange between developers, administrators, academia, civil society and content creators. The conference will take place 11-13th September 2026 at c-base Berlin.
https://berlinfedi.day/en/

Maybe you're already on Mastodon, Pixelfed or PeerTube. Maybe decentralised social media touches your work without you thinking of it that way. Either way: If you have something to say, show, or ask: We want to invite you — developers, researchers, journalists, lawyers, artists, and everything in between.
https://ctalx.c-base.org/fediday-2026/

You can enter proposals until 2026-06-14 23:59 (Europe/Berlin)