Notices by David Slifka (davidslifka@mastodon.social)

This week I went to a conference on AI in politics hosted by Higher Ground Labs and others.

Similar to AI in the wider world, the applications today are mostly making existing processes better/faster/cheaper, for example: Analyzing voter feedback, Monitoring news and social media, Designing attractive materials.

This alone could have big impacts. Nearly everything in politics is tightly cost-constrained, so moving the cost curve way down could materially shift who can win elections.

What are things that everyone in politics already knows, but others are surprised to learn?

Welcome @indivisibleteam - and co-leaders @leahgreenberg and @ezralevin - to @Mastodon! Let's get them the following here that they deserve.

https://indivisibleteam.medium.com/were-stepping-back-from-the-increasingly-dangerous-and-dysfunctional-x-and-we-re-sorry-it-s-a15524fab070

How to Leave X

Some of the best tips I've seen for transitioning to Mastodon.

Don't delete your X account; instead go Mastodon-first, meaning:
1. Open Mastodon before X
2. Post new content to Mastodon before X
3. Engage replies on Mastodon before X
4. Keep using X but as a lurker; reply less, follow less.
5. Post teasers on X ("My thoughts on ABC are posted on Mastodon. Username in bio.")
6. Occasionally post on X that you're now on Mastodon, otherwise your absence is less noticed.

My latest thoughts on the open social web (a term that includes the fediverse but also e.g. BlueSky/AT), and how to maximize its odds of success.

TLDR: Serious marketing, funding for lots of projects, and a full-featured Twitter competitor yesterday!

https://slifka.substack.com/p/growing-the-open-social-web

@spreadmastodon

The distinction between a “social network” and “parasocial network” is a great one!

Twitter was successful as both, though emphasis was on parasocial IMO.

From: @mnemonicoverload
https://libranet.de/display/0b6b25a8-1864-4e61-acd2-3ef431785154

@supernovae @damonoutlaw @mekkaokereke @atomicpoet Here's a list I put together of things I read and heard in case it's helpful. Haven't shared publicly til now, but feel free to share if helpful.

Looking back at it in the context of this discussion, it clarifies why some people would feel more comfortable on a nascent BlueSky than on Mastodon as it exists today.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ihmQgucBmEdEEuPPrbUiI4GBBDCCqucXniXdqTaaLkc/edit?usp=sharing

@supernovae @damonoutlaw @mekkaokereke @atomicpoet Thanks for the kind words! But tbh I don't think I or many others deserve much credit here. My takeaway from the list is that yes, there is >0 happening on most items (though definitely not all); but what progress exists is still nascent. I'd love more people getting involved to work on these issues, but most of that needs to flow through Mastodon itself I think. Would love other ideas though.

@AstroKatie @hollie We just launched a volunteer-driven site http://SpreadMastodon.org to help explain it and make signing up crazy easier. Mastodon is our best shot to #TakeBackSocial. I hope it might make Mastodon more approachable to people like your colleagues (who are far from alone!).

Easy to miss in Mastodon's latest update, but the most-requested features are indeed coming "soon:"

"...quote posts, improved content and profile search, and groups. We’re also continuously working on improving content and profile discovery, onboarding, and of course our extensive set of moderation tools, as well as removing friction from decentralized features. Keep a lookout for these updates soon."

https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2023/05/a-new-onboarding-experience-on-mastodon/

@spreadmastodon @fediversenews

@jeff @npr assuming they actually turn it over when requested, it seems win-win? What’s the downside?

@jeff @npr how interesting, I see it very differently, as basically a community service to both sides. But I certainly haven’t thought deeply about it so will reflect on your perspective. Thanks!

@dimitrisk @feditips @spreadmastodon Here's some background on our thinking behind that decision.

https://medium.com/@davidslifka_86286/how-to-decentralize-social-media-6ae35a49ac46

Some have asked recently: How do I balance growing the fediverse with keeping it diversified, and why?

TLDR: Central social media behemoths are here today and almost impossible to dislodge. The way to achieve decentralized social is to grow the fediverse, so I believe that should be the primary goal. Keeping the fediverse decentralized is important; if that starts to become an issue, I'll be here to address it at that point. More here; polite thoughts welcome as always.

https://medium.com/@davidslifka_86286/how-to-decentralize-social-media-6ae35a49ac46

Hi Mastodon Spreaders @spreadmastodon -

Who would be up to coordinate a volunteer welcoming committee, to search for intro hashtags and welcome people / provide resources?

Let's get this going!

In 2004, the web was under threat.

Microsoft’s browser held 95% market share, but failed to protect against viruses and spyware. The internet was becoming more centralized and less safe, stifling innovation.

So a movement began: Spread Firefox. People rallied around open-source software that fixed the problems, building and marketing it together.

Today there is another movement to break from centralized social. But it hasn’t had a name - until now.

@spreadmastodon and #TakeBackSocial

(1/3)

What I love about the #fediverse is that it's an open do-ocracy.

In a do-ocracy, "everyone does jobs that they think need to be done, without everyone's input."

In other words:
1. Lead (build what you see as being most needed),
2. Follow (support builders), or
3. Get out of the way (don't spend the precious moments of your life tearing down builders).

And in all roles: Be open, curious, and compassionate.

Grateful to all the fediverse builders out there in @fedidevs and everywhere else.

@shoq @dangillmor @jeffjarvis @jayrosen_nyu @jeff @adamdavidson @davetroy @pluralistic @elipariser @atomicpoet @mmasnick @anildash How would you smart people describe to media companies the unique benefits and opportunities of Mastodon/fediverse vs. centralized social?

(Creative answers are most helpful; pretty sure we can all list the basics like "no incentive for addiction," "different server moderation," "never an Elon," etc.)

@evan in case helpful: https://fediversereport.com/surf-program-manager-talks-about-their-mastodon-pilot-for-dutch-higher-education/

What do we as the fediverse community need to accomplish in order to scale by 10x or 100x?

After conversations with so, so many amazing people working to make this happen, I took a shot at making a list.

I hope it's a useful resource for people looking to get involved, and also to promote discussion and collaboration.

https://medium.com/@davidslifka_86286/what-the-mastodon-ecosystem-needs-to-scale-cb845f30cfe8