A New Era for the Fediverse: The Social Web Foundation

Fueled by the recent surge in popularity of Meta's Threads app, which adopted the ActivityPub protocol, the fediverse, an open and interconnected social web, is witnessing a significant shift. To capitalize on this momentum, a new non-profit organization, the Social Web Foundation (SWF), has been launched. The SWF aims to amplify the reach and impact of the fediverse by focusing on enhancing the user experience, advocating for the ActivityPub protocol, and educating both individuals and institutions about its potential.

• Co-founded by Evan Prodromou, the current editor of ActivityPub, the SWF brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including Meta, Flipboard, Ghost, Mastodon, and the Ford Foundation.
• With substantial funding secured, the SWF is poised to significantly impact the evolution of the fediverse.

Improving the User Experience: Making the Fediverse More Accessible

One of the primary goals of the SWF is to simplify the user experience within the fediverse. While platforms like Mastodon provide a Twitter-like experience, their decentralized nature can be daunting for newcomers. The SWF intends to address this challenge by developing an alternative onboarding experience that will guide users through the initial steps.

• The SWF will offer a stand-alone product designed to make the fediverse more intuitive and accessible for those who are unfamiliar with its decentralized structure.
• Furthermore, the organization aims to raise awareness about the diverse range of federated apps available within the fediverse.
• The SWF is particularly focused on educating users of platforms like Threads, where the option to enable federation is often overlooked.

Bridging the Gaps: Interoperability and Protocol Enhancement

The SWF is committed to enhancing interoperability between different platforms within the fediverse. This includes efforts to bridge the gap between users of the AT Protocol (Bluesky) and the ActivityPub protocol, facilitating communication between these platforms.

• The SWF will continue to develop and refine the ActivityPub protocol, addressing specific challenges associated with incorporating platforms like Ghost, which cater to long-form text formats.
• The organization recognizes the importance of defining best practices for elements such as attachment limits, image embedding, and character count for diverse content types.

Educating Stakeholders: Fostering Fediverse Adoption across Industries

The SWF will play a pivotal role in educating diverse stakeholders about the benefits of participating in the fediverse. This includes individuals setting up their accounts for the first time, as well as organizations and institutions with unique needs.

• The SWF will launch targeted educational materials, beginning with media organizations, providing case studies from prominent institutions like ProPublica, NPR, and the BBC.
• Following this initial focus on media, the SWF will extend its educational efforts to universities, startups, and large enterprises.
• The organization aims to connect with accelerators and programs that support social app startups, emphasizing the advantages of adopting a federated approach.
• The SWF plans to release new educational materials at a rate of approximately one per quarter.

The Future of the Fediverse: A Decentralized Social Web

The Social Web Foundation represents a crucial step toward realizing the potential of the fediverse as a decentralized and accessible social media ecosystem. By improving the user experience, promoting interoperability, and educating diverse stakeholders, the SWF is actively shaping the future of the fediverse.

• The SWF is driven by a vision of a more open, interconnected, and user-centric social web, where individuals and organizations have greater control over their online experiences.
• With its dedication to user education, protocol refinement, and interoperability, the SWF is poised to make the fediverse a more inclusive and vibrant space for all.