A New Social, a nascent non-profit organization, aims to foster a truly open and interconnected social web, challenging the dominance of centralized platforms. Spearheaded by Ryan Barrett, the creator of Bridgy Fed, and Anuj Ahooja, an experienced engineer and writer, the organization envisions a social media landscape where users are not confined within platform-specific silos, but can seamlessly interact across different networks, owning their data and relationships. This vision hinges on the adoption of open protocols like ActivityPub and ATProto, which allow interoperability between different social media platforms, much like email allows communication between different email providers. A New Social believes that competition should be driven by innovative features and user-centric design, not by the sheer size of a platform’s user base.
The organization’s core mission is to empower users by breaking down the “artificial walls” erected by closed platforms. By advocating for open standards and interoperability, A New Social seeks to create a more dynamic and user-controlled social web. This contrasts with the current landscape where users are often locked into specific platforms, making it difficult to connect with friends and communities on other networks. This can lead to fragmented online experiences and limit users’ ability to freely share and engage with content. A New Social argues that this closed ecosystem stifles innovation and limits user choice.
Currently in its foundational stages, A New Social is actively working on establishing its organizational structure, including recruiting a Board of Directors. A key focus is identifying and supporting cross-protocol projects that facilitate seamless communication between different social media platforms. This involves engaging with developers to build the necessary tools and services that foster cross-platform community building. A prime example of this approach is the adoption of Bridgy Fed as A New Social’s inaugural project.
Bridgy Fed, developed by Barrett, allows users to seamlessly share content between Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform, and platforms based on ActivityPub, such as Mastodon, the flagship platform of the fediverse. This bridges the gap between different decentralized networks, allowing users to interact and share content regardless of their chosen platform. This cross-platform functionality exemplifies A New Social’s vision of a truly interconnected social web.
A New Social is actively engaging with key players in the open social web space, including Bluesky, Flipboard, Mastodon, and Meta. These discussions are crucial to promote the adoption of open standards and encourage interoperability. Ahooja emphasizes the importance of holding these platforms accountable for their promises regarding decentralization and federation. He highlights the role of A New Social as a user advocate, ensuring that these platforms prioritize user needs and fulfill their commitments to openness. This advocacy role is crucial to ensure that the open social web develops in a user-centric manner.
While the vision of A New Social is compelling, questions about the long-term sustainability and viability of open-source projects in the social media space emerge. The recent shutdown of sub.club, another fediverse project involving Ahooja, underscores the challenges these ventures face. Concerns arise about whether users can confidently invest in platforms like Bridgy Fed, given the risk of potential discontinuation. Ahooja and Barrett address these concerns by emphasizing a multifaceted approach.
A New Social’s strategy involves not only engaging with users but also educating and collaborating with platforms. They believe that “top-down education” is essential to ensure that platforms understand and embrace the benefits of open standards. This collaborative approach aims to create a sustainable ecosystem where platforms and developers work together to promote interoperability and user control. Furthermore, A New Social recognizes that individual projects may come and go, but the broader trend towards decentralized social media is gaining momentum. By fostering interconnectedness and advocating for open standards, A New Social aims to contribute to the overall growth and resilience of the decentralized social web, even if individual platforms or tools evolve or disappear. This long-term vision emphasizes the importance of building a robust and adaptable ecosystem that can withstand changes and challenges.
