Say Goodbye to Algorithms and Data Mining with Mastodon: A Guide to a Better Social Media Experience
Say Goodbye to Algorithms and Data Mining with Mastodon: A Guide to a Better Social Media Experience Over the past few years, social media has wormed its way into the very fabric of our daily lives, becoming an indispensable part of our personal and professional existence. From staying in touch with friends and family to immersing ourselves in fresh content and keeping up with current events, social media platforms have taken on the mantle of a one-stop-shop for all our digital needs. However, these platforms are far from perfect, with a plethora of issues that mar the user experience. These issues range from social media companies utilizing algorithms designed to hook users to data mining practices that result in the collection and sale of our personal information. Enter Mastodon, the decentralized and open-source social media platform that is currently taking the online world by storm. A platform that offers a refreshing alternative to conventional social media, Mastodon is the embodiment of user privacy and freeness of expression. In this blog post, we will embark on an enthralling journey that aims to elucidate why Mastodon is, without a shadow of a doubt, a better social media platform compared to other platforms. Additionally, we will examine how Mastodon delivers a more pleasurable, safe, and secure user experience for its dedicated users. No Algorithms, No Filter Bubbles Conventional social media platforms have been known to utilize algorithms that keep users hooked by curating content that aligns with their interests. But here’s the rub: these algorithms spawn filter bubbles that limit exposure to diverse viewpoints, paving the way for the spread of misinformation and rendering it challenging for users to form their own opinions. The content promoted is either paid for or brimming with vitriol that’s impossible to ignore, exacerbating the issue. Mastodon, on the other hand, operates differently. Instead of using algorithms to control the content users see, it operates on a federated network that empowers independent instances. This translates to users having complete control over their choice of instance and the content they view. Additionally, Mastodon allows users to follow other users from different instances, providing a more diverse and inclusive social media experience. Apart from that, Mastodon allows users to follow hashtags, which helps them discover new content and engage in conversations around topics that intrigue them. Unlike other social media platforms, where algorithms regulate hashtags, Mastodon accords users the power to choose which hashtags they want to follow, allowing them to form their unique opinions and engage in open, respectful conversations. On Mastodon, you become the algorithm, and the best way to begin is by incorporating hashtags into your posts, enabling others to catch a glimpse of your interests. Searching within Mastodon is distinctive, and it functions based on the keywords or hashtags users utilize. A hashtag introduction in your first post can kickstart your Mastodon journey by revealing more about you. Completing your profile bio is another way to make Mastodon more captivating as you embark on your adventure. Privacy First The issue with conventional social media platforms is their eagerness to collect and peddle your personal information. This can encompass everything from your location and browsing history to the content you interact with, leaving you trapped in an advertisement loop and susceptible to online tracking and monitoring. But Mastodon, as an open-source platform, is different. It implements a privacy-first approach and ensures that users have absolute control over their data and its sharing. Mastodon is transparent about its data privacy policies, allowing users to make informed decisions concerning their online privacy. Mastodon offers several posting options, including the public feed for anyone to see, only for followers, direct messaging to specific individuals, and unlisted posts. Unlisted posts won’t show up on the main feed but remain visible when someone visits your profile. Mastodon users can also choose to disable the visibility of their social graph connections and prevent themselves from being indexed by search engines. These are all meticulously crafted options that enhance the privacy appeal of Mastodon above that of other platforms. Posting Levels Public Anyone can see your post Your post will appear in the public timelines Followers will receive the post in their home feed Can be boosted (re-posted) Followers Only Just as it sounds Can not be boosted Direct / Private Post viewable to specifically mentioned users Post will not appear in the home timeline Note: not encrypted and can be technically read by an instance admin Freeness of Expression But Nicer Conventional social media platforms have been known to censor certain types of content, including personal opinions and self-censored topics that could ignite flame wars. This can make it difficult for users to express themselves freely and hinders open discourse. Mastodon, however, operates differently. The platform is grounded in the principles of freeness of expression and encourages users to engage in open and authentic conversations but typically with greater respect. Moreover, Mastodon operates on a decentralized network, which means that no central authority can dictate the kind of content shared on the platform. This translates to a more welcoming and agreeable social media experience, where users can freely express themselves without the usual apprehension felt on other platforms. Nonetheless, Mastodon encourages users to exercise caution by hiding any content that might be triggering or inappropriate for certain users behind content warnings. Content warnings are used for sensitive topics, hiding any accompanying media behind a blurred thumbnail that requires a manual click or tap to read. Failing to use this feature is strongly discouraged and may result in violators being booted off the platform. These features render Mastodon more appropriate than many other platforms, ensuring a more welcoming and secure environment for users. A Nicer Place for Conversations In addition to its unwavering focus on user privacy, sincerity of expression, and a complete lack of algorithms, Mastodon boasts an incredibly amiable and supportive community. This is in stark contrast to other social media platforms where negativity and harassment run rampant, often tainting conversations
What Goes Into A Blog Post
It’s not just the text you see. Copywriting is one component and arguably the most important. However, there are other crucial things that the person who publishes your blog should be doing behind the scenes. Using Headers Your blog post needs to be divided into logical sections which have their own sub-titles known as headers in web-speak. HTML headers (H1 – H6) help search engines properly understand your post’s layout. The H1 tag for instance is typically used for your page’s title. After that, your content is sub-divided by the other HTML headers. So, your blog poster is adding these headers in strategic places within your post. Accessibility Did you know that your blogger is also likely adding attributes to make your blog easier to read while playing nicely with screen readers and search engines? For example, they are adding things like title attributes to links and alt attributes to images. These are things that also help achieve your search engine optimization goals. Breaking Up Content Good bloggers know how to break up content so that it’s easier to read online. Rules for writing are different for the screen. A two to three sentence paragraph for example is going to look better on a screen than four to five sentences. Bulleted lists, numbered lists and blockquotes will make the reading experience easier for your readers who are more used to skimming content quickly while online. Keywords Then, there’s replacing words and phrases with specific keywords which form part of the SEO (search engine optimization) process. There are specific guidelines and best practices that go into this thought process to make sure that your blog post looks appealing for both your readers and search engines. Using the right keywords helps to make your post easier to find. Call To Action A blog post will likely end with a call-to-action request, link or button. Your readers should find an easy path to the next step in engaging with you. Images A feature image will help your blog post stand out. Consideration will go into its aspect ratio and the text that might be added to the image. Making sure the image is copyright free, complements the site’s branding and tone will also weigh into its selection. Working with images takes some time. Just getting the color down can take effort. Tone & Logic Then, there’s making sure that a post conveys the right tone—one that compliments your brand. Also checking that it makes sense is just good common sense. Sometimes in the writing process, the logic breaks down and additional words or explanations are needed. I’ve actually seen some blogs contradict themselves within the same paragraph. So yeah, this also takes time. Spell check and Grammar Let’s not forget these two items. Often typos or incorrectly used grammar creep into a post, even when it’s supposedly ready for publishing. So there’s some behind the scenes review time going on. These are some of the things that happen behind the scenes to get your blog posted. Even after much review and editing, some of these items can still be missed. Fixing needed changes is part of what contributes to your blog’s success. Again, it all takes time. Blogging is more than just writing. It’s not just typing words on a screen. Say teaz.me if your business needs some help in this area.
When A CEO Gets It Wrong
Twitter CEO Response Chases Users Away We didn’t suspend Alex Jones or Infowars yesterday. We know that’s hard for many but the reason is simple: he hasn’t violated our rules. We’ll enforce if he does. And we’ll continue to promote a healthy conversational environment by ensuring tweets aren’t artificially amplified. ~ @jack, Twitter CEO
Life on the Facebook Farm
What Facebook Says About The Farm Hard Questions: What Information Do Facebook Advertisers Know About Me? | Facebook Newsroom If I’m not paying for Facebook, am I the product? No. Our product is social media – the ability to connect with the people that matter to you, wherever they are in the world. It’s the same with a free search engine, website or newspaper. The core product is reading the news or finding information – and the ads exist to fund that experience.
IEEE-CSACM Joint Task Force on Software Engineering Ethics and Professional Practices
Preamble – Principle 1 PUBLIC – Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest. ~ Software Engineering Code of Ethics – IEEE Computer Society In view of recent polls suggesting that only 41 % of Americans trust Facebook to obey laws that protect their personal information, and especially considering the whole Cambridge Analytica fiasco, maybe it’s time for Facebook devs to review the above principle. As one Hacker News commenter put it: They are responsible for the fruits of their efforts. Recent revelations are of degree, not kind. The consequences of engineering work were reasonably foreseeable and the consequences were not at arm’s length. Facebook’s business model has been clear and well-understood for years and years now. This is not technology being misapplied by someone several steps removed from you. This is technology misapplied by Facebook and Facebook’s immediate customers and Facebook engineers enabled it. … I am unsympathetic to anyone at Facebook feeling moral disquiet. I think you know what you ought to do. In the mean time, the #DeleteFacebook hashtag picks up steam as Facebook’s share price continues to fall.
