@chat I just want to ask you guys if you have any input on how the decentralization of Mastodon has ever posed benefits/drawbacks for you? I’m really interested in exploring the site and would love any feedback!

  • blueNyello@mastodon.socialOP
    1·
    12 days ago

    @JCPhoenix We also learned about information utopias and dystopias, where tools like social media contribute to negative and positive experiences as a result of their vitality in our lives. I also would love to get your thoughts on whether or not a website like Mastodon contributes to either the utopia or dystopia direction that social media is taking society.

    • JCPhoenix@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      11 days ago

      I think Mastodon is better since it’s not algorithmic. I could create a bubble of negativity (or positivity) if I wanted to on Mastodon, but I’d have to go out there and search for it and then build it, right? It’s different from maybe, on Twitter, tweeting something negative, then the algorithm serving me up similar negative content, which I consume, which gives me more, so and so forth.

      In addition, I definitely don’t spend as much time on Mastodon as I do on, say, Instagram or YouTube, which is serving me content algorithmically. That’s probably a positive, too.

      Though given that IG and YT are more unidirectional – content creator serves content to viewer with little in the opposite direction, other than comments – whereas Twitter and Mastodon are more multidirectional, with conversation happening between people in the threads, that it’s more of a “true” communications platform, the lack of the algorithm on Mastodon does make it more difficult to have those spontaneous interactions. Whether that’s a good thing or not probably depends on the person. Some people just want to consume content, while others want to participate in the content. I guess that’s kinda tangential to your question!