Twenty years ago, even some more, the internet was something that brought me hope for humanity:
A democratic network of knowledge open to anyone for both participation and access. I truly expected this to improve the lifes of those in less fortunate countries and backgrounds, and help reduce conflicts between people by understanding each other.
Yeah, a bit too much “we are the world”, but you read about the pioneers of the internet and this was a shared belief.
I remember watching the Arab Spring unfold. Twitter being a guiding light through the darkness for so many people whos government tried to control available communication.
All that has happened with the consolidation of social media into a propaganda arm for governments and corporations makes the fediverse decentralized network an important step forward in the right direction.
If there were another “??? Spring”, could the fediverse be a tool for communication central to a movement still remains a question.
That’s exactly what happened in Hungary, Slovakia, Russia… terrestrial news stations and papers all have people at the helm that have ties to their government.
I don’t think it’s much different in the US either.
I think the Internet is still a good thing, it’s just become so pervasive and ubiquitous that it’s easy to ignore when it’s not a bad thing. Humans are really good at noticing bad things, which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. They stand out more starkly against a neutral background.
That the internet is not a good thing.
Twenty years ago, even some more, the internet was something that brought me hope for humanity: A democratic network of knowledge open to anyone for both participation and access. I truly expected this to improve the lifes of those in less fortunate countries and backgrounds, and help reduce conflicts between people by understanding each other.
Yeah, a bit too much “we are the world”, but you read about the pioneers of the internet and this was a shared belief.
Turns out it was like Cyberpunk, but like boring.
I remember watching the Arab Spring unfold. Twitter being a guiding light through the darkness for so many people whos government tried to control available communication.
Such high hopes for people back then.
Occupy Wall Street and Me Too, also. I thought we were headed in the right direction. Fast forward… We got this.
All that has happened with the consolidation of social media into a propaganda arm for governments and corporations makes the fediverse decentralized network an important step forward in the right direction.
If there were another “??? Spring”, could the fediverse be a tool for communication central to a movement still remains a question.
The fediverse is empty and scattered as hell
All the dystopia, none of the mantis blades.
Social media made the internet not worth it. I had high hopes also but humanity sucks as seen when we are all interconnected with global squares.
Yet here we are, defiant in someone’s server in a basement in Germany.
It’s more of a billionaire nazi propaganda problem. Imagine if they bought up the newspapers and tv stations and there was literally no alternitive
That’s exactly what happened in Hungary, Slovakia, Russia… terrestrial news stations and papers all have people at the helm that have ties to their government.
I don’t think it’s much different in the US either.
I think the Internet is still a good thing, it’s just become so pervasive and ubiquitous that it’s easy to ignore when it’s not a bad thing. Humans are really good at noticing bad things, which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. They stand out more starkly against a neutral background.