“Social media should be built on protocols, not platforms,” Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko emphasized during an interview in Equity podcast. “People should have the freedom to choose between platforms and the ability to move seamlessly across them.”
Social media is a way share information online. It allows users to create content, share ideas, and connect with others.
- Communication: Social media allows users to have conversations and share information.
- Networking: Social media allows users to connect with others and build communities.
- Brand promotion: Social media allows businesses to promote their products and services.
- Information sharing: Social media allows users to share ideas, opinions, and information.
Rochko advocates for a decentralized approach to social media, giving users greater control over their data and digital experiences, including the type of content they encounter. He recently criticized Meta’s controversial changes to its content moderation policies, which, under the guise of supporting free speech, now permit more content that Rochko identifies as hate speech. Speaking with Rebecca Bellan, Rochko discussed how decentralized platforms like Mastodon could provide a meaningful alternative to social media giants like Meta and X.
- Mastodon’s transition to a nonprofit structure in Europe.
- The challenges of enabling interoperability with platforms like Threads and TikTok, which faces a U.S. shutdown this weekend, and why user choice is critical.
- Other decentralized platforms worth watching, including Pixelfed.
For more insights, listen to the full episode on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and others. Follow Equity on X and Threads (@EquityPod), or read the full transcript and explore the episode archive on their website.