On MeWe's launching into "the social web", ostensibly in keeping with the notion of "decentralization" and now claiming it will become the world's largest decentralized social platform. [Insert sighs and face-slaps here]

There are a few problems with both #truth and practical realities of 'federation' or decentralizing, for a big walled garden like MeWe.

Disclosure: I have several good friends and some photographers/artists I 'follow' via my small (now) "followers" (nee contacts).
I've written at length about MeWe vs. pora* vs. "other" since the time my beloved #GooglePlus was decimated by #EvilGoogle.
So some of my long-time 'circles' of Google+ refugees divided up, some "here", many to MeWe &/or Facebook. #IIWII

This is what I posted just to my own small MeWe 'followers'/friends group, sharing here for those also watching or 'being there'.

As we know, MeWe has been touting changes, and has imposed a bunch on everyone, ready or not, like it or not.

Article (PR release) about the premise:

Universal Web3 Handles Now Available for New MeWe Users

And MeWe's own press release ("liked" by about 50%) summarizes fuzzily (wonder if Elon Musk wrote this!)

"The Social Web is a collection of apps made by developers that believe in empowering individuals to control their digital experience. Unlike the current web, where big platforms control our data and digital lives, the Social Web puts people first. It provides a transparent technology infrastructure that places people and human connection at the forefront, making it possible for people to take control of how their digital world works. "

[Link: https://support.mewe.com/hc/en-us/articles/14542689640983-What-is-the-Social-Web- ]

I most notice the change to "followers" as opposed to contacts/friends/aspects etc. But their big promotional push is on "social web" with at least two deceptions here:

1) There has never been - since the first explanations/promises - a way to "publicly" post beyond the walled garden, individual posts. And since the forced changes, some are losing some contacts &/or access to groups, or other anomalies. Just know, the 'goal' is fluff.

2) Being part of the larger, "decentralized" social graph.
Again, not happening in the way others on the Web have gone to decentralized (e.g., "Federated") sites. The MeWe version, according to their statement:

The Social Web is a collection of apps made by developers that believe in empowering individuals to control their digital experience. Unlike the current web, where big platforms control our data and digital lives, the Social Web puts people first. It provides a transparent technology infrastructure that places people and human connection at the forefront, making it possible for people to take control of how their digital world works.

Apps? I don't and will never center my online experience around "apps". Just the user interface and the 'app'/software/web page to interact with others, groups, etc. is fine. IF they were to put all the groups onto separate public-facing servers (which may be the plan), that might be good for exposure to the public, photos, art, work, etc....

BUT.. there is now way this blithe bit of promotion "puts people first" is anything but (should be) embarrassing. What does MeWe put first now in the user experience? Antelope? Bots?

Anyway, I've not opted in, as there is no "there there", for me, anyway. I'll believe it when I see it that the "walled garden" has become public-facing with proper privacy/choice controls. I'd welcome any stories/reports about the new world of "apps for everyone" as the MeWe brand of 'open web'.

Meanwhile, I stay "here" for my usual - friends/acquaintances, interesting people and content.
I do like the groups for photography and other interests though I've slacked off in my contributions (time & space).

So... this is for anyone who cares &/or is curious about "what's going on" with all the changes to interface, notices, etc. Cheers!

#SocialMedia #SocialWeb #MeWe #Federation #Decentralization

Ya think?

#Media / #SocialMedia note -

I've decided to pretty much "let it be" on Post.news, other than a casual visit from time to time.}
I follow enough of a sample (mostly journalists, authors, and a few political scientists &/or commenters) so I have a feed.
I've posted a few things so I've seen the very nice formatting, (If you type within asterisks it automatically italicizes, for example, and there's an option for headlines with each post, etc.) You can "like" but not re-share as-is.

Unique sorts of things: You cannot just 're-post' / tweet / toot whatever, without adding to it, title, intro, whatever.
If there is a working notifications system/function it's quite oblique to me. I've never seen a notice even on the few posts I got reactions to, although in the beginning I did get email notices of a comment or 'like'. Lately I've seen nothing, though that might reflect my dearth of posts and followers. (I do use tags). I'm now seeing most of the news org feeds I follow, placing a price (nominal but there) on reading full articles. Some are only a few sentences long, some complain. Others full-length reads from expensive sites.

This one (graphic) is by one of the more prolific posters, an author who promotes his book and blog, but also posts freebies (always a surprise if hitting the "read more" button leads to a lengthy article or the end of one sentence). As you can see, the 'hot topic' capturing so much 'news' today is Biden's (false-equivalent) having left a few papers in his office when he left as VP. #GQP pouncing.

Pretty much I've been looking at the same few people's posts in my "following feed", including this very active fellow (author, mega-poster, and booster of the platform). And the media feeds I see are basically mirrors of Twitter accounts (Reuters, etc.)
I'm a bit wary of what seems like a trend (on my timeline at least) of mostly for-pay reads on the news org sites. So it's double-edged, the news orgs are 'landing' on #Post - mostly mirroring Twitter feeds now - and finding a new for-pay potential. Right now Post.news is still in Beta, and it may change massively yet, interface etc., and the pay-to-appreciate model (sort of like Brave browser!) is now fueled by the free tokens one gets at sign-up (50) plus one can buy more. Maybe a good "deal" for those who want to sample otherwise paywalled sites (like WSJ, WAPO, NYT, etc.)

So for the moment, my impression is of a nice interface for writers/bloggers, but a bit "one way" as opposed to encouraging a lot of interaction, comments, re-shares. I'm guessing some of the big celebs (George Takei for example) are also just branching out as a cushion for Twitter's losing many followers and accounts, &/or trying it out (many saying they like it.... but again, I see it more as a presenting platform than interactive, though that may reflect my limited immersion.

So that's that. I still see huge energy growing numbers in #Mastodon, more so than #MeWe or "here" in diaspora* land ...

Thing is, #Twitter is like a huge blimp with many holes. Lots of people saying "time to jump" and/or 'the fumes are toxic, just leave", as others wait it out. Lots and lots of bots - and #MuskVirus - #disinformation and #trolling.

Choice is good. It's nice to have some comfy spots to hang and share/discover, or just take in the view, or shoot the breeze....
Seems "all quiet here" other than some annoying glitch whereby constant notifications are sent about old posts, particularly on private rather than public posts, it seems.... Ah well, #IIWII , tech, interfaces, people....

Meanwhile, Russia...

Posted by a colleague in Moscow, an "activist" on some issues (E.g., opposing housing & education polices, but fine with U.S. authoritarianism under Lord #Trumpvirus, and in general, so it seems from my perspective.

It seems that the new Duma budget will result decimating social programs & services (including medical services in the face of a bad COVID situation) while exploding military and "propaganda" budgets 'bigly'.

Some may have seen this, even protested it, in the U.S., the bloating of military budgets at the expense of other things.

So this is not to compare systems or even leaders, but to highlight similarities in how governments prioritize.
It seems to me that priority #1 in many places is to sustain or grow presence/domination and keep the powers that be, in power.
In very different ways.

Anyway, seeing this brought me back to debates over Vietnam, through Afghanistan. That's how super-powers and past/present Empires roll. [ "Context and perspective" ]. Seems like Russia copies the U.S. model, or vice versa. But what strikes me is how clearly and unapologetically a huge budget item is specifically for "propaganda". Well, #IIWII. (it is what it is). #Russia