X (formerly Twitter) belongs to the old generation of centralized online social networks that built their business model on harvesting user data and audiences. A new generation of social networks, more aligned with privacy and freedom of expression, is now emerging.
In the world of telecommunications, anyone can call anyone, but individuals are free to choose their operator and the phone model that suits their needs—and even switch if they want to.
This wasn’t always the case. Initially, switching operators meant losing your phone number, and calls to other operators were often heavily charged. Users were effectively trapped by their service provider.
A network like X (formerly Twitter) is the equivalent of those early telecom operators for social media: its business model is based on capturing user data and audiences, and Elon Musk holds complete control over your data and audience.
But this doesn’t have to be the case!
To guarantee freedom of expression, a social network must uphold three fundamental principles:
- Control over your data. The time you spend creating content on a social network shouldn’t be wasted if you decide to leave. You should be able to easily export all your creations and bring them to your new digital home. This is called data portability.
- Control over your audience. The reputation you build on a social network should belong to you. If you decide to leave, it should follow you effortlessly. Just as when you change phone providers, your contacts can still call you on the same number, when you switch social networks, you should be able to retain your followers. This is called audience portability.
- The ability to choose your recommendation algorithm. Recommendation algorithms filter information for you, and only a small fraction of what your network shares is shown to you by X. X imposes its algorithm on you, and it is notoriously toxic. To guarantee freedom of expression, a social network must allow you to choose, transparently, how information reaches you. You should be able to switch algorithms or even design your own. This is called algorithmic pluralism.
- X guarantees none of these fundamental principles. If you dislike X’s policies or its ever-changing terms of use, your only option is to lose everything.
In contrast, Mastodon and BlueSky are designed to uphold these three principles, with a few minor differences.
Unlike Twitter and other centralized social platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.), Mastodon and BlueSky are based on open protocols. Essentially, they establish shared standards for posting and relaying content online, and various providers then offer ways to build social networks experience in the digital world.
Since everyone uses the same protocol, anyone can interact and follow anyone else, even if they use different services. Each person owns their data and digital identity, much like modern telecommunications!
Having social networks built on open protocols also has a major advantage: decentralization.
Unlike X, LinkedIn, or Facebook, no one can buy out Mastodon or BlueSky, just as no one can buy out the HTTP protocol that connects the web or the IT conventions enabling phone communication. If a billionaire acquires a Mastodon or BlueSky platform, users can simply migrate to another Mastodon or BlueSky instance that suits them better, taking their data and audience with them!
Switching to this new world is simply a matter of choice. After #January20th, digital slavery will be a thing of the past!
And HelloQuitX will manage the migration from X to BlueSky and Mastodon, ensuring you don’t lose everything when you leave. Who’s making it happen? HelloQuitX!
