Open Protocol Social Networks?

[Metamorph]

https://www.reddit.com/r/socialistpr..._of_computers/

Does anyone have any information on these pre-Gates and pre-Zuckerberg technologies? I doubt they've actually stymied any progress and think the real problem is simply that the masses are ignorant, which seems like a captain obvious statement. Open source software exists and seems generally superior to paid software, but you have to know how to copy and paste at least a few lines of code and most people don't seem to want to do that even if it'd lead to a vastly improved experience. I use email more than Facebook and there are all sorts of different things you can set up yourself like forums and chatrooms.

[FreelancePoliceman]

The Matrix protocol is open. Riot.im has the most features of any clients currently. Not sure if a chatroom counts as a social network though. You might try GNU Social as a Facebook/Twitter-type network, though I haven't used it, and don't know much about it.

[The Reality Denialist]

This stuff happens a lot. It is a common phenomenon. Minecraft is a big game but there were other pre-Minecraft platforms out there and even today there are very good non clones of similar technology.

Behind this lies even bit higher level question: What makes something big? Obviously social media and software in general is a result of integration of new technologies.

Let's think about a computer. Making a somewhat functional 8 bit CPU is not a light task for an individual but doable and result is very bulky indeed. How about a transistor? Well, good look at producing one [let alone billions] but it is doable and results in even more bulkier design. How about extracting elements from earth?

We have just touched technology. What about politics and marketing? These might be even larger barriers to conquer.

[xerx]

There are tons of free technologies that have allowed people to build hundreds of social networks. They aren't spotlighted, but that doesn't make them nonexistent. There are infinite ways to stop using Facebook and Twitter.

[xerx]

Does anyone have any information on these pre-Gates and pre-Zuckerberg technologies? I doubt they've actually stymied any progress and think the real problem is simply that the masses are ignorant, which seems like a captain obvious statement. Open source software exists and seems generally superior to paid software, but you have to know how to copy and paste at least a few lines of code and most people don't seem to want to do that even if it'd lead to a vastly improved experience. I use email more than Facebook and there are all sorts of different things you can set up yourself like forums and chatrooms.

100% this.

And then, when the social media corporation changes its speech policies in order not to repel advertisers, they complain about censorship (guess what folks: Lays Potato Chips, like any non-suicidal money-making organization, doesn't want its products associated with White supremacist Youtube rants). A lot of it is understandable, though, because people have only been taught the basics of the Internet.