The Rise of A New Social: A Non-Profit for Open Social Web Development
The open social web is evolving, and while it still faces several challenges, a new initiative aims to pave the way for a more interconnected and user-friendly environment. Introducing A New Social, a non-profit organization co-founded by Ryan Barrett, known for creating Bridgy Fed, and Anuj Ahooja, an engineering leader and writer.
Mission and Vision of A New Social
A New Social is driven by a clear mission: to foster an ecosystem where innovation and user engagement take precedence over mere platform power. According to their mission page, "We believe that a healthy ecosystem competes on innovative features, not critical mass." They emphasize that online social interactions should revolve around individuals rather than the platforms themselves.
By leveraging open protocols like ActivityPub and ATProto, A New Social aims to advocate for users and ensure that competition thrives in the open social web landscape. The organization is dedicated to collaborating with developers to build tools and services that facilitate cross-protocol community building.
Early Stage Initiatives
Currently, A New Social is in its infancy. As per their press release, Barrett and Ahooja are in the process of:
- Recruiting a Board of Directors
- Identifying cross-protocol projects
- Reaching out to developers for collaboration
One of their first projects is the continuation and expansion of Bridgy Fed, which allows users to share their Bluesky posts on ActivityPub-based platforms like Mastodon (often referred to as the fediverse) and vice versa.
Collaborations with Major Platforms
A New Social has already begun discussions with leading platforms in the open social web space, including Bluesky, Flipboard, Mastodon, and Meta. Ahooja highlights that these platforms have made significant commitments to their users regarding decentralization and interoperability.
"All of these platforms are making some big important promises to their users," Ahooja stated in an interview. He emphasized the importance of being vocal and holding these platforms accountable to their commitments to user empowerment and decentralization.
Concerns and Skepticism
Despite the promising vision of A New Social, questions surround the sustainability of open social web projects. Ahooja acknowledges skepticism, particularly following the shutdown of sub.club, another initiative he previously worked on. Users naturally wonder about the long-term viability of projects like Bridgy Fed.
Ahooja insists that their strategy involves engaging with platforms directly rather than solely focusing on users. "We think that top-down education is more important than anything," he asserted. By adopting a cross-network approach, the organization aims to ensure that even as individual platforms and tools may come and go, the larger movement towards decentralized social media continues to gain traction.
The Future of the Open Social Web
Barrett echoes this sentiment, stating that the overall goal is to foster connectivity among decentralized social media platforms. He believes that if they can contribute to the wider ecosystem and keep it interconnected, this would yield a positive outcome for all.
As A New Social embarks on this promising journey, it raises hopes for a more inclusive and user-centric social web, demonstrating that the right advocacy and innovation can empower users and enhance their online experiences.
Stay updated on the latest developments from A New Social by following their progress and engaging with their initiatives aimed at revolutionizing the open social web.
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