The Fediverse must be very careful to avoid getting branded as the “alternative to X”. In my experience, platforms that have historically branded themselves as “alternative to” or “anti-” have generally not done well. Learned this from the last Reddit exodus: let’s make this one different!

How can this time be different?

Join real communities, contribute real content.

Sorry, but low-effort image macros and meta-posting about how much everyone hates Reddit (yes, yes, u/spez sucks, carry on) is not a recipe for a successful platform. It doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t really help either.

This time, the exodus appears to have been large enough to start disrupting Google search, at least anecdotally. This is an opportunity for the Fediverse: now is the time to create searchable content, to ask the questions that people are asking search engines, and to engage in real communities.

Here’s my call to action:

  1. Find 1 new community on any Lemmy/Kbin/etc. and make a post/article. Not a low-effort post, but something that a search engine would pick up on.
  2. Comment when you’ve done so, with a link to the post.
  3. Then, go and comment on someone else’s post that they’ve commented.

Let’s make the Fediverse succeed!

Here are some options for Kbin communities, but feel free to pick others on other instances as well!

  • @MyMulligan
    9•1 year ago

    I would argue that the only low level post that would be worthwhile is the social variety. For those in the Fediverse who want this to be a place to visit everyday there needs to be posts that create a dialog of sharing life events. Some of the best posts on reddit were the ones where the comment thread was better than the post. The post sparked something to share and people dog piled and created something fun and entertaining.

    Maybe the Fediverse isn’t big enough for that to happen spontaneously right now. But I do like when my communities/magazines ask the general low level question. It allows me to participate and not wait for a post where I have some expertise to share.

    BTW, good observations and good ideas in your post.