EDIT: we just crossed 30K 🥳
We are now at 28.5K users (see https://lemmy.fediverse.observer/list). The top 10 instances also got a decent boost in user count. With the exception of beehaw.org which defederated, the Fediverse is thriving 🔥
EDIT: we just crossed 30K 🥳
We are now at 28.5K users (see https://lemmy.fediverse.observer/list). The top 10 instances also got a decent boost in user count. With the exception of beehaw.org which defederated, the Fediverse is thriving 🔥
I think that will be a lot more feasible if the capability to migrate user accounts between instances is added.
Right now for a new user joining the fediverse, the largest instances are the best option since they are the most likely to remain up and federated with most other instances. Why would you join some random smaller instance when there’s a clearly established one already there?
Making it possible to change instances would remove some of this friction - then your choice of initial instance isn’t important.
recent events with beehaw have shown that being on a large instance does not guarantee federation.
i’m all for roaming profiles even though i think the best option is hosting a personal or a friends-only instance - unless you’re a colossal asshole nobody will defederate you, you’re are not depending on anyone but yourself for your profile and subscriptions, etc etc. this obviously isn’t for everyone but the barrier of entry is sufficiently low for people interested in tech and fediverse to do just that.
email has started as a fully distributed system but - for reasons too many to count here - ended up centralized over several huge providers, openly dictating rules to everyone else. i’d rather fediverse not followed this road.