This might just be me, but I’ve recently been wondering—has anyone ever floated the idea of potentially creating a decentralized and/or federated alternative to the browser engines dominating the market?

Right now, it feels like options are increasingly monopolized, with Google Chromium (Blink) being the backbone of almost every browser, and Mozilla’s Gecko engine fighting to hold on.

While platforms like Mastodon, Lemmy, and others prove that decentralization/federation can work remarkably well for social media, could this model apply to browser engines or even search platform ecosystems?

Maybe something open and community-driven that allows different stakeholders or communities to innovate independently while ensuring compatibility standards?

I recognize this would be a monumental challenge, requiring deep technical expertise, time, and resources.

I’d love to explore it myself, but I just don’t have the energy, time, or knowledge to get such a thing off the ground.

Does anyone else feel like the Fediverse could potentially use a centralized, clear, and engaging way to introduce itself and its platforms to new users?

I’ve noticed a recurring trend: on Reddit, YouTube, and other platforms, there are constant questions like "What is the Fediverse?" or "How does Mastodon/Lemmy/Pixelfed work?"

While it’s great to see so much interest, these questions can become repetitive, and they highlight the need for a more accessible and official introduction to the Fediverse.

What I’m proposing is The FediGuide—a centralized, interactive, and approachable platform or website designed to explain what the Fediverse is, how ActivityPub works, and what its platforms (like Mastodon, Lemmy, Pixelfed, etc.) are all about. Here’s how The FediGuide could look and function:

Key Features of The FediGuide

1. Interactive, Child-Friendly Design

• The FediGuide should be so simple and visually appealing that even a five-year-old could grasp the conce

Consider creating and sharing video updates about the development progress of Loops and Pixelfed on popular social media platforms like YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, etc.

Rationale:

1. Increased visibility: Platforms like YouTube and TikTok have MASSIVE user bases, providing an opportunity to reach potential new users who may not be familiar with Loops or Pixelfed.
2. Engaging content format: Video content is highly engaging and can effectively showcase new features, UI improvements, and behind-the-scenes development processes.
3. Building community: Regular updates can help foster a sense of community and excitement among existing users, keeping them informed and involved in the project's progress.
4. Inspiration from others: Some developers are already using this approach successfully. For example:
   • Skylight Social (ATProtocol-based app): https://www.tiktok.com/@buildwithtori
   • Neptune (potential TikTok alternative): https://www.tiktok.com/@theneptuneapp

These creato

I've been thinking about how we could potentially enhance the Lemmy experience, and I wonder if anyone else sees potential in incorporating a feature similar to Bluesky's Custom Feeds or Mastodon's Fedialgo?

Here's my thought process:

Why Custom Feeds?

User Empowerment: Custom feeds allow users to tailor their experience, moving beyond the limitations of chronological or "popular" sorting.

Discovery: They can help users find content and communities they might not encounter otherwise.

Flexibility: Users could create feeds based on specific interests, keywords, or even complex criteria.

New User Onboarding: Many new users join Lemmy from algorithm-driven platforms like Xitter, Reddit, Tiktok, Instagram, Bluesky, etc. and may find the manual nature of Lemmy's current feed system limiting. Custom feeds could help to smooth that transition.

Bluesky's Approach

Bluesky's implementation of Custom Feeds is particularly interesting:

Users can create and share t

I've been thinking about how we could potentially enhance the Lemmy experience, and I wonder if anyone else sees potential in incorporating a feature similar to Bluesky's Custom Feeds or Mastodon's Fedialgo?

Here's my thought process:

Why Custom Feeds?

1. User Empowerment: Custom feeds allow users to tailor their experience, moving beyond the limitations of chronological or "popular" sorting.
2. Discovery: They can help users find content and communities they might not encounter otherwise.
3. Flexibility: Users could create feeds based on specific interests, keywords, or even complex criteria.

Bluesky's Approach

Bluesky's implementation of Custom Feeds is particularly interesting:

• Users can create and share their own algorithm-driven feeds
• It promotes algorithmic transparency and user choice
• The feature has been well-received for its innovative approach to content curation

https://bsky.social/about/blog/7-27-2023-custom-feeds

https://bsky.socia

Hey everyone,

I’ve been thinking about how the Fediverse handles user accounts and logins for a while now, and I had a question.

Right now, users have to create accounts on specific instances on various platforms, which works but can sometimes feel a bit fragmented—especially when someone wants to interact across multiple instances or migrate to a new one.

Would it make more sense for the Fediverse to adopt a login system based on encrypted keys, like how NOSTR operates (or something similar)?

In such a system, users could have a single "universal" private key that serves as their identity across the network.

Here are some potential benefits I see:

• Single Identity Across Instances: Users wouldn't need to create multiple accounts for each instance, making it easier to interact across the Fediverse.
• Seamless Migration: If your home instance shuts down or you switch to another one, your identity and data could remain intact since it’s tied to your key, not t

Has anyone ever considered the potential creation of a Labeler similar to Andrew Lisowski's Bluesky Politician Labeler, but for the Mastodon platform?

This tool, which has been developed for Bluesky, provides valuable transparency by listing top contributors to US politicians.

The Bluesky Politician Labeler

(https://github.com/hipstersmoothie/us-gov-contributions-labeler)

is an innovative Open-Source feature that enhances political discourse on social media.

It automatically labels posts from US politicians with information about their top financial contributors, offering users immediate context about the potential influences on these public figures.

Key benefits of implementing a similar feature on Mastodon could include:

Increased transparency: Users would have easy access to information about political funding sources.

Enhanced political discourse: This feature could lead to more informed discussions about politics and campaign finance.

User empowerment: Mastodon

Has anyone ever considered the potential creation of a Labeler similar to Andrew Lisowski's Bluesky Politician Labeler, but for the Mastodon platform?

This tool, which has been developed for Bluesky, provides valuable transparency by listing top contributors to US politicians.

The Bluesky Politician Labeler

(https://github.com/hipstersmoothie/us-gov-contributions-labeler)

is an innovative Open-Source feature that enhances political discourse on social media.

It automatically labels posts from US politicians with information about their top financial contributors, offering users immediate context about the potential influences on these public figures.

Key benefits of implementing a similar feature on Mastodon could include:

1. Increased transparency: Users would have easy access to information about political funding sources.
2. Enhanced political discourse: This feature could lead to more informed discussions about politics and campaign finance.
3. User empowerment: M

What Are Audius Music and Gala Music?

Audius Music [https://audius.co/] [https://audius.org/]

is a decentralized music streaming platform built on blockchain technology.

It serves as a music-sharing and discovery platform where artists can upload their music directly, bypassing traditional record labels or streaming services.

With a focus on giving artists more control over their content and revenues, Audius employs blockchain to provide transparency and allows fans to directly support artists via tokens or other forms of cryptocurrency.

It's a hub for independent musicians who want to distribute and monetize their work without middlemen.

Gala Music [https://music.gala.com/]

operates similarly but is part of the Gala Games ecosystem, which utilizes blockchain technology for play-to-earn gaming and entertainment experiences.

Gala Music's goal is to empower artists by decentralizing music ownership and letting fans own Music Nodes.

These nodes help distr

I've been wondering if there's a decentralized, Fediverse-compatible alternative to Pinterest out there.

The idea of a federated platform for sharing and curating visual content, DIY ideas, and inspiration boards seems like it could be a great addition to the Fediverse ecosystem.

Some questions I have:

Does anyone know of an existing project that's similar to Pinterest but Fediverse-compatible?

If not, has anyone considered developing such a platform?

What challenges might be involved?

Perhaps it could be potentially created under the Pixelfed Banner, similar to Loops?

Would there be interest in the community for a Pinterest-like service on the Fediverse?

I personally believe that this could be an exciting project, but personally, I lack the technical knowledge, energy, and time to take it on myself.

However, I'd love to hear your thoughts and see if there's any traction for this idea.

If such a service doesn't exist yet, maybe this post could spark a discussion

I’ve been wondering—does a Fediverse-based equivalent to Discord exist?

I know there are alternatives like Matrix, Revolt, etc., but what I’m looking for is something more akin to Discord that’s Decentralized, Open-Sourced, and makes use of ActivityPub.

If it doesn’t exist, has anyone ever thought about attempting something like this?

What I envision is something that would potentially serve as a decentralized clone of Discord, with features like voice and video chat, text channels, stickers and emojis, customizable communities, etc.

Perhaps make each of the communities an instance, self-hosted by the instance owner(s).

Names for such a project could reflect its functionality or ethos, perhaps something like:
ActivityChat
SocialHub
MeshTalk

Or maybe a name that’s the complete opposite of “Discord,” such as:
Harmony
Concord
Rapport

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time, energy, or technical knowledge to start such a project mysel

The Concept

Neptune (in beta) is attempting a user-controlled algorithm that allows individuals to tailor their content feed based on personal preferences, moods, and desired aesthetics.

This approach gives users more agency over their social media experience and could be a valuable addition to Loops.

Benefits of Implementation

1. Enhanced User Experience: By allowing users to customize their feed, Loops could provide a more personalized and satisfying browsing experience.
2. Reduced Algorithmic Bias: A user-controlled algorithm could help mitigate concerns about opaque content curation and potential bias in traditional algorithmic systems.
3. Creator Empowerment: This feature could level the playing field for creators, focusing on content quality rather than arbitrary metrics like follower counts.
4. Alignment with Pixelfed's Values: A customizable algorithm aligns well with Pixelfed's principles of user control and transparency.

Potentia

With the ongoing TikTok concerns, I'm curious about the development status of Loops by Pixelfed.

I've checked their GitHub repository multiple times, but it seems pretty sparse.

Does anyone know of:

• A dedicated progress tracking page
• A development blog
• Active discussion channels (Discord, Matrix, etc.)
• Roadmap resources
• Developers to Follow

etc.?

I'm interested in following the project's evolution but haven't found a reliable way to stay updated.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

I've been using Lemmy for a while now, and I've noticed something that I was hoping to potentially discuss with the community.

As a leftist myself (communist), I generally enjoy the content and discussions on Lemmy.

However, I've been wondering if we might be facing an issue with ideological diversity.

From my observations:

1. Most Lemmy Instances, news articles, posts, comments, etc. seem to come from a distinctly leftist perspective.
2. There appears to be a lack of "centrist", non-political, or right-wing voices (and I don't mean extreme MAGA-type views, but rather more moderate conservative positions).
3. Discussions often feel like they're happening within an ideological bubble.

My questions to the community are:

• Have others noticed this trend?
• Do you think Lemmy is at risk of becoming an echo chamber for leftist views, a sort of Truth Social, Parler, Gab, etc., esque platform, but for Leftists?
• Is this a problem we should be concerned about, or is it a natural res

Hey everyone,

I’ve been wondering about this for a while now— does the Fediverse have a potential equivalent to platforms like Podchaser?

For those unfamiliar, Podchaser serves as a database and discovery platform for podcasts, with features like ratings, reviews, creator building, integrations with various apps and platforms, and more.

I personally believe that something like this could fit really well within the decentralized, open-source nature of the Fediverse, especially given how creative and diverse the communities, and Fediverse Platforms, are.

If something like this already exists, I'd love to hear about it.

And if not, has anyone ever considered potentially making one?

Perhaps have it be a fork of Bookwyrm, called something like:

Podwyrm

or something similar?

Similar to the Platform concept of Moviewyrm, as mentioned in my other post.

(https://lemmy.world/post/24118854)

Unfortunately, I lack the knowledge, time, and energy to spearh

I was curious, does anyone know if there is a Fediverse alternative to sites like:

[IMDb] (https://www.imdb.com/)

[TMDB] (https://www.themoviedb.org/)

[TheTVDB] (https://thetvdb.com/)

[IHorrorDB] (https://www.ihorrordb.com/)

__

Something that allows users to discover, review, and discuss movies and TV shows in a decentralized way.

I know about Moviewyrm, which is a concept of a potential fork of Bookwyrm.

While it’s a great start, it is just the concept of a potential platform.

If there isn't one, then has anyone ever considered building a more robust movie/TV platform for the Fediverse?

Or better yet, is something already in the works that I might have missed?

I’d love to see a project like this come to life, but unfortunately, I lack the knowledge, time, and energy to start it myself.

However, I’d be really interested in discussions or ideas for how such a platform could be built.

I’m curious if there’s a decentralized platform in the Fediverse specifically designed for hosting media, similar to platforms like:

Imgur

Flickr

ImageShack

ImgPile

mgbox

etc.

While I’m aware of fantastic Fediverse platforms like PeerTube and PixelFed, they are more focused on video sharing or image-heavy social networking.

What I’m looking for is a straightforward platform built specifically to host media (images, GIFs, short videos, etc.) for embedding on other platforms within the Fediverse, such as Lemmy, Friendica, Misskey, or others.

Essentially, a decentralized (preferably Federated) service where the main purpose is lightweight hosting for use on external apps, so individual platforms don’t have to shoulder all the storage and bandwidth demands for image or media content.

Does something like this already exist in the Fediverse ecosystem, or is it a gap that still needs to be addressed?

If not, then I personally believe that it could be a fantastic idea for fo

I would llike to request the implementation of swipe gestures in boost for Lemmy to allow users to quickly and intuitively interact with posts and comments.

This feature would significantly improve the user experience by providing a more efficient and modern way to engage with content.

Specifically, I propose adding the following swipe gestures:

1. Swipe to upvote/downvote posts and comments
2. Swipe to share posts and comments
3. Swipe to save posts and comments

Benefits

• Improved user experience and engagement
• Faster and more intuitive interactions with content
• Alignment with modern mobile app design patterns
• Competitive feature parity with other popular Lemmy apps

Implementation Suggestions

• Add horizontal swipe gestures for posts in the feed
• Implement horizontal swipe gestures for comments
• Include customizable gesture settings to allow users to personalize their experience
• Ensure smooth animations for visual feedback during swipe actions

Example