Tag: IndieWeb

Defending Internet Freedom through Decentralization

Defending Internet Freedom through Decentralization: Back to the Future? by The Center for Civic Media & The Digital Currency Initiative MIT Media Lab, August 2017. Chelsea Barabas, Neha Narula, Ethan Zuckerman (dci.mit.edu)

In this report, we explore two important ways structurally decentralized systems could help address the risks of mega-platform consolidation: First, these systems can help users directly publish and discover content directly, without intermediaries, and thus without censorship. All of the systems we evaluate advertise censorship-resistance as a major benefit. Second, these systems could indirectly enable greater competition and user choice, by lowering the barrier to entry for new platforms. As it stands, it is difficult for users to switch between platforms (they must recreate all their data when moving to a new service) and most mega-platforms do not interoperate, so switching means leaving behind your social network. Some systems we evaluate directly address the issues of data portability and interoperability in an effort to support greater competition.

This research report is fascinating.

IndieWeb WordPress Feedback

IndieWeb WordPress Feedback (gregorlove.com)

I’m upgrading a friend’s WordPress site and decided to go through the IndieWeb’s Getting Started on WordPress page. Here’s some notes as I go through the process, trying to view it through the lens of someone who isn’t already familiar with indieweb terminology.

On wiki pages

I wonder ...

gRegor, I agree with everything you wrote as it is similar to my initial experience with the IndieWeb "Getting Started on WordPress" page. Do you want to work together on fixing this?

Instagrammers

Instagrammers are sucking the life and soul out of travel | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett (the Guardian)

You might think social media would diversify the range of images we see, yet the most popular users operate according to a strict schema that takes full advantage of the relevant algorithms (creative, fascinating accounts are still there, but said algorithms make them harder to find). And it’s not just travel – it’s interiors, fashion, weddings, food, children. Social media encourages the memeification of human experience. Instead of diversity we see homogeneity. It’s extremely boring.

The Guardian’s Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett thinks Instagrammers are sucking the life and soul out of travel.

Instagrammers are sucking the life and soul out of travel | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett (the Guardian)

You might think social media would diversify the range of images we see, yet the most popular users operate according to a strict schema that takes full advantage of the relevant algorithms (creative, fascinating accounts are still there, but said algorithms make them harder to find). And it’s not just travel – it’s interiors, fashion, weddings, food, children. Social media encourages the memeification of human experience. Instead of diversity we see homogeneity. It’s extremely boring.

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I have noticed that recently I have posted to my Instagram account about once a month. I hardly even look at the stream anymore. I think I’m bored with the platform. So a question for myself, do I need/want Instagram? Do I want my web site to be the only place where I post my images?