Before Reddit, before GitHub, and even before the World Wide Web went online, there was Usenet.

This decentralized network of discussion groups was a main line of communication of the early internet — ideas were exchanged, debates raged, research conducted, and friendships formed.

Usenet is one of the oldest computer network communications systems still in widespread use. It went online in 1980, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Linux was officially announced on a Usenet newsgroup.

Usenet’s use may have declined over the years, but it is still quite active. It is good to see that although the masses may often only know about Reddit, Facebook, etc, there are many of the older social networks still running, with thousands of daily users. Another such example is IRC (I post to my own IRC group daily).

Despite new social networks, there is still plenty of space and use on the older networks. Not everyone just flocks to the newer, flashy websites. I suppose it also means that the users on Usenet and IRC are also likely to have a slightly different focus on how they communicate. I also doubt you’ll find many Gen Z etc users on those older networks.

Whilst the original Usenet is paid access, If you want to ‘lurk’ on Usenet groups you can also try out the free Eternal September service. I use a client app called Pan to read Usenet groups.

See https://itsfoss.com/remembering-usenet
#Blog, #retro, #socialnetworks, #technology, #Usenet

One of the human freedoms is the ability to choose with whom to speak and engage. The Fediverse allows you to have your own space, or a shared space with like-minded people. It lets you choose who you want to interact with and who to avoid.
True free communication can only be in your own hands and federated.

#Fediverse #SocialNetworks #Social #OwnYourData #Freedom

Defending those who defend us

"At TEDIC, we have been working for over a decade to defend digital rights, a commitment that led us in 2023 to become a trusted partner of Meta Inc., the company behind platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This partnership allows us to act quickly against cybersecurity threats affecting human rights defenders. These include recoverin

https://www.tedic.org/defending-those-who-defend-us/

#Blog #activists #cybersecurity #Meta #SocialNetworks

As @jomc discusses in this article, Bluesky is not decentralized (at least not yet).

Mastodon is today.

That is why I have been more focused on things there where I have more control of my data, social graph and it is more resistant to single-owner problems.

https://filmmakermagazine.com/128200-joanne-mcneil-bluesky/

#social #networks #media #SocialNetworks #SocialMedia #data #ethics #DataEthics #digital #content #bluesky #mastodon #FutureProofing

Il y a parfois de bonnes nouvelles dans l'actualité.
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[01net] - #Facebook, #Instagram, #Threads, #WhatsApp et #Messenger en panne.
Mickaël Bazoge

Soirée difficile pour les réseaux sociaux et les messageries de #Meta. Facebook, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp et Messenger sont en effet en panne pour de nombreux utilisateurs.

https://www.01net.com/actualites/facebook-instagram-threads-whatsapp-et-messenger-en-panne.html

#RéseauxSociaux #SocialNetworks
#RevueDePresse #Press

Enfin une bonne nouvelle : le cloaque ne dégouline pas vers #mastodon.
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[Libération] - #Bluesky : progression fulgurante, algorithmes, créateur… 5 questions sur le succès du rival de X.
Elise Viniacourt

Depuis les élections américaines, le réseau social Bluesky bénéficie de l’exode des utilisateurs de X et voit sa fréquentation décuplée. «Libé» décrypte le succès de l’appli, perçue comme un havre de paix par ses membres.

https://www.liberation.fr/economie/economie-numerique/bluesky-progression-fulgurante-algorithmes-createur-cinq-questions-sur-le-succes-du-rival-de-x-20241121_LQBCT465P5CBNJCUQQBNBEKFIQ/

#RéseauxSociaux #SocialNetworks
#RevueDePresse #Press

Results of the study: Social networks of celebrities are usually followed by people with low intelligence

#study #celebrities #followers #peoples #intelligence #socialnetworks

Intellectual humility is associated with less affective polarization and, among conservatives, less polarized attitudes

Perhaps driven by more political heterophily among the humble

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pops.12890

#socpych #polpsych #polisci #research #socialscience #socialNetworks #polarization #politics #conservatives #attitudes #newpaper #newpsychresearch @socialpsych @politicalscience