Moving away from Meta? What does that mean?

Meta Platforms, under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg, have unfortunately become a haven for users and content espousing Nazi, racist, homophobic, and transphobic ideologies. In recent months, Meta and its executives have made significant concessions to appease the United States government and its fascist regime. This culminated in Meta’s recent decision to discontinue fact-checking, which was a final straw for me.

In light of these circumstances, I am making the decision to leave Meta platforms and replace them with healthier and more democratic alternatives.

Threads alternative

After being an avid Twitter user since 2009, Threads quickly became my text-based platform of choice after the Twitter acquisition debacle left myself and many other users feeling as if they had no place for them. Threads came along and served its purpose, but after recent events, it has proved itself just as influential as any other Meta platform in the FOTUS presidency.

That being said, I am elated to have moved to the Bluesky community. Bluesky is increasingly viewed as Twitter's spiritual successor due to its decentralized architecture and similar user experience, and due to the fact that it originated as an internal project within Twitter.

One of the best parts about Bluesky is its protections against fascist billionaires taking it over. Bluesky is structured as a public benefit company, which means it's a for-profit entity with a public benefit mission. It's not owned by a single person, but rather has a corporate structure with investors.

Find me on Bluesky here.

Instagram alternative

I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Instagram user in early 2010, a full year ahead of its Meta (then Facebook) takeover. While, admittedly, the platform managed to stay true to itself for a bit, it is time for a change.

Instead of posting on Instagram, I can now be found on Pixelfed. Pixelfed is a decentralized, open-source photo-sharing platform that functions as an alternative to Instagram. Pixelfed is completely open-source software that anyone can run on their own servers.

Find me on Pixelfed here.

Facebook alternative

Facebook, once a platform designed for college students and alumni to connect, has dwindled in its former glory. In its early years, it even required users to sign up with a .edu email address.

On the other hand, Facebook has evolved into a means of connecting with family and old friends in a nostalgic way. Consequently, I’ve decided to keep Facebook in a limited[1], read-only mode to stay in touch with those who may not be on more progressive platforms.

Other Platforms

Social media platforms, whether they connect us through the Fediverse or the AT Protocol, play a crucial role in real-time updates and connections. However, as a technologist, I firmly believe that any content, stories, or other personal items you cherish should always remain yours and be shared on a platform where you have complete control.

If you’re a writer, artist, creator, or musician, I strongly advise sharing your work on your own website. Don’t allow your creations to be exploited by billionaires and right-wing extremists who prioritize their own interests over yours. They may scrape your data to train AI, claiming it’s all permitted under their Terms of Service. Fortunately, there are numerous affordable web hosting platforms and tools available that enable you to build your own space and truly own it. Additionally, there are numerous online tutorials that can guide you through the process.

[1] More specifically, limited means removing all of my user content (posts, photos, likes, groups, etc.) and deleting all apps, only accessing the site periodically on a limited browser on a device connected to a private VPN. Fuck you, Mark!