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I have been on Mastodon for a few months now, and just joined here. I have been wanting FOSS and community-based alternatives to social media for a long time, and now it seems the impetus is present based on the actions of large companies selling their user-bases out for larger migrations of people to these more community-centric platforms.
What is striking me now is that these once-revolutionary internet platforms and companies are all reaching an inflection point. Imploding one-by-one at the hands of their own hubris and exploitation of their users.
What I realized after switching to and primarily using these platforms over Twitter, reddit, etc, is that I had become so desensitized to the commercialization of the internet. I didn't know what it was like to browse and connect with people without constant advertisements and clickbait. The algorithms of commercial social media incite conflict because it drives engagement and benefits the bottom line.
I've never been on social media without feeling a sense of anxiety. Even when I pared down my consumption to my own interests, it was there. I really had no idea it was possible to have a space on the internet without that.
The fediverse so far has been an enlightening experience. Genuine conversation, no mysterious algorithms dictating what reaches your attention, and an unfamiliar sense of calm while browsing social media; traditionally stressful on commercial sites, but addictive as well.
I know places like this and Mastodon are unfamiliar to most and will not draw the same numbers as the larger, more established commercial sites. But spaces like this are worth investing time in, as opposed to selling your data to the lowest bidder. I say welcome everyone who has taken that step in to the fediverse and I look forward to chatting with you all!
I like it this way much more. I never felt comfortable commenting on Reddit, but something about this basic, forum style makes me feel actually comfortable contributing to the conversation. It's a new feeling but really nice! I'm thinking this will help me quit Reddit and spend less time on screens as well. I'm having a hard time figuring out instances etc and how to connect to them, I'm mostly just using this instance and its communities for now. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually
Mostly, I just enjoy the lack of enshitification and hyper-paranoia sponsored by algorithms seeking quick cash. Its nice :)
Hopefully stays that way. I still am giving the side-eye/stink eye to certain developers of reddit who are self described 'communists' and are, well... Russian sympathizers