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Launched as an alternative to Twitter, it aims to offer a more personalised and intimate social media experience. Imagine a cosy corner of the internet where you can share your thoughts, photos, and messages with your closest friends. The platform aims to feel like a warm, intimate gathering rather than a bustling, crowded party. It has recently been gaining popularity for its user-friendly interface and intends to, one day, become fully decentralised. However, the question remains: will Threads truly become decentralised in the future? While Instagram has not made any official statements, the potential for this could further enhance privacy and control for its users. However, this remains to be seen.

Mastodon, a free, self-hosted social networking service, is one popular example of a fully decentralised social network. It is a platform where you can freely express yourself without fearing privacy violations. Picture a social media platform where you’re the “captain of the ship”. This is Mastodon, a platform that returns the wheel to the users. Each server is like a mini-kingdom, with its own rules and regulations. This makes it a flexible platform that can be used by many different groups of people. However, the experience can vary greatly depending on which server you choose to be on, which a potential adventure is for some and a challenge for others.

Another fully decentralised social network is Diaspora. It is a non-profit, user-owned social network. This means it is not owned by any one person, keeping it from being subject to advertising. To get started on Diaspora, simply choose a server, or “pod”, that suits you, sign up, and join the conversation. You can follow tags related to your interests and share a public message to introduce yourself. You can also share content with the people you choose. It also allows users to control their data and decide who gets to see their posts. This can particularly appeal to people who wish to share content within a specific group. Diaspora also supports posting to your Twitter, Tumblr, and WordPress accounts, allowing you to use Diaspora as your home base while keeping in touch with friends on other platforms.  

These platforms represent a shift towards a more user-centric model of social networking, where users have more control over their data and can choose how and where their content is shared. As privacy concerns continue to shape the digital landscape, the popularity of decentralised social networks will likely grow. However, every coin has two sides; while these platforms do offer enhanced privacy and control, it’s crucial to understand how to stay safe.

This includes choosing a safe server and being mindful of the information you share. The question of moderation is a big one. Since these platforms allow anyone to set up their own spaces with their own rules, some do allow harmful content to spread. You should be aware that the experience and safety measures may vary from server to server, as some could potentially lead to the spread of harmful content.