I just had a look at #Meta's recent press release about #Threads, and something caught my attention right away.
For the very first time, they're acknowledging another #Fediverse platform alongside #Mastodon. Specifically, they're highlighting that #WordPress can now connect through #ActivityPub.
Now, you know Meta's PR department doesn't say things by accident. So here's why this is a big deal. Last time I checked, WordPress powers a whopping 43% of the Internet. Yeah, you heard that right! If you visit a website, there's a good chance it's using WordPress as its CMS.
Now, if even a fraction of those WordPress sites start federating, it could have a huge impact on the network effect of the Fediverse. Of course, Meta isn't oblivious to this. I've been talking about the potential of WordPress and ActivityPub for quite some time now.
But if you're particularly observant, you might also notice that they mention #Tumblr. We've known for a while that Tumblr is likely to integrate ActivityPub into their platform.
But here's an interesting tidbit: Did you know that one company, Automattic, not only owns Tumblr but is also the driving force behind WordPress?
I don't want to jump to conclusions, but once again, PR departments don't just drop hints randomly. I have a strong feeling that Meta has been having some high-level discussions with Automattic about the future of ActivityPub. It wouldn't surprise me if Meta has some insights into Automattic's upcoming plans for the Fediverse.
I joined mastodon today because the CEO of #tumblr had a complete meltdown recently when people called him out for deleting a trans woman's blog because she posted a transition timeline. The vibes were definitely off, just doesn't feel like a safe place right now. I'd love to follow more #trans and #queer folks on here! This is my second social media account (third if you count myspace. omg should I go back to myspace??) so I need all the help I can get with navigating this place.
Apparently, Tumblr's CEO stepped on his crank and outed himself as a TERF. We does not abide the TERF. No we doesn't.
If you're fleeing #Tumblr and checking out the #fediverse, welcome! I hope you find a home here. You have quite a few options with #Mastodon, #Miskey, #Firefish#Sharkey (I'm posting this from sharkey.world), and the practically thousands of instances within those. Each have their own flavor and features, so don't feel you have to settle on one off the bat. It's not unusual to see new users sign up on one instance, then eventually move to another, then another before they find the community that fits them best.
Looking for something more "bloggy"? Bear Blog and Pika are two services offering simple blogging tools with an emphasis on "small blogging". They are unassociated with the major blogging platforms and offer a fresh alternative to them.
Thinking about the #Tumblr engineer who said they believe interoperability with the social web would just be a cost center and wouldn’t bring any profits. The point is not how interoperability affects the bottom line, the point is that it allows your platform to survive in an ever changing social media landscape and have a bottom line at all. If #Pebble was part of the social web, they would have had a network of 1.8M active users, not 1,000, and perhaps wouldn’t have had to shut down.
UPDATE: Seems it already happened. Content from 2014-2023 has already been shared. So your opt-out will just be honoured going forward. If and how already sent content will be handled by the receiving 3rd party after you opt-out remains a mystery
Amazing, they did an entire UI/UX update on Tumblr and it looks like Twitter. One is a blogging service and the other is a microblogging service. Having this new layout just feels weird. I can get used to it, but I don't feel like being reminded of the birdsite whenever I'm on Tumblr. #SocialMedia#Tumblr
I saw someone saying that "why would #threads need to take so long? #WordPress and #Tumblr jammed out #ActivityPub support really quickly! Must be because they are figuring out how to do [nefarious things]!"
Tumblr doesn't have it yet.
This is serious "tell me you know absolutely nothing about how these systems are built and what is required for them without saying…" territory.
Dear gods. I know you want to be cynical and cynicism is even warranted, but can we not just make things up?
Is #Tumblr seriously putting advertisements every FOUR posts?? (Normally I don’t see it because I’m on desktop with an adblocker.) This has got to be worse than before, right??
Ich bin ja skeptisch, ob es für das #Fediverse wirklich so gut ist, wenn die etablierten großen Player hier mitmischen. #Automattic und #Tumblr traue ich ja noch halbwegs, aber #Meta / #Instagram?
So while one key piece of the #Fediverse is that entire instances can be blocked as a form of moderation, and keeping things safe for people. I think it should be clearly stated to newcomers to any instance if entire platforms such as #Meta / #Tumblr / #Medium / #WordPress.com / #Bluesky (through a bridge) are being blocked.
If someone wants to have a federated identity and follow family/friends on Meta then they are SOL if an instance completely blocks the entire platform. #fediblock
I know there's been a thousand opinions already put out so I'm mine probably doesn't matter, but....
I don't care if it's #Threads, #BBC, #tumblr, or whoever else comes to the fediverse. Every instance is entitled to federate or defederate with who they want. I don't necessarily agree with groups like dotArt silence defederating with bbc.social, but I understand their reasoning and it's fully in their rights. Threats and attacks only tear the fediverse apart and make us look bad.
:MokouWha: what's with #forkey related developers doing shit in the #fediverse that can only be dreamed by the absolutely deranged :suwawawa:
first we have someone trying to make migrating a #mastodon instance to #sharkey possible, now we have #firefish to some #tumblr lookalike called #wafrn :TenshMelt:
pls keep coming up with this shit, the fedi needs more of this :RumiaPray:
Keep criticising Matt Mullenweg. But please don't throw those of us who have worked for him and on the #WordPress project in various capacities under the bus.
Many of us not only dislike the guy, but have been hurt by him in one way or another.
But for some of us, WP is our livelihood.
Self-host your website outside of WordPress.com. There's plenty of hosting providers out there who support the open source WordPress ecosystem without involving MM or Automattic Inc.
Je me souviens quand #tumblr était connu pour permettre à des gens isolés, un peu perdus avec eux même de rencontrer des personnes comme eux.
Je me souviens que c'est là bas que j'ai entendu et vu pour la première fois des utilisé des mots comme #trans ou #lgbt.
Puis ça a été vendu, amputé de ce que je recherchais. Et aujourd'hui, ils ont choisi de jeter ceux qui en avaient leurs foyers ... Je déteste voir le #fedi grandir ainsi, a cause d'exode. Bienvenue #tumblr, sécher vos larmes, respirer.
Like, I believe there is a direct correlation between a platform's business values (how it makes money), its moderation practices, and overall user happiness & desired retention.
Like there's a reason users are referring to your platform as a "hell hole" besides just it being funny.
Data's poetry is good and I'm tired of pretending it isn't