Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power - Benito Mussolini
|
|
|
Facebook challenger Diaspora is close to launch
THE DEVELOPERS of Diaspora, the more secure and privacy focused social network, are close to launching its web site.
The first stage of the web site has been built, according to a message from the organisation, and the service promises to be rather different from the existing alternatives.
"We've built the first stage of a new social web, one better than what's out there today: a place where each of us owns our own information, where each person controls his or her own privacy, where no-one is a product, and where we all control our own destinies," it said. "We're sending out alpha invitations now, as quickly as we can. If you haven't gotten yours yet, you will receive it by the end of October."
The INQUIRER has not received its invitation yet, but will look at the service as soon as it is available. For now, according to the developers, we can console ourselves with the fact that we might already be used to some of its features.
"There's been big news in the social networking world recently, and we can't help but be pleased with the impact our work has had on two of the biggest developments," they wrote.
"We're proud that Google+ imitated one of our core features, aspects, with their circles. And now Facebook is at last moving in the right direction with user control over privacy, a move spurred [by] all of us who've stood up to say 'there has to be a better way.' We're making a difference already."
As well as improving security and users' control over their own data, Diaspora said that it will make being social on the internet more fun, give users more freedom, and be open to new applications as they become available. "We're not gatekeepers," it added. µ
Tags: Internet
Share this:
Share
I wonder if they will also show commitment to not sharing your data with the various authorities and big money (sony/apple/etc) without putting up a good fight and demanding all the appropriate warrants.
Those things very much depend on the character of the owner I find, so I wonder how that pans out.
Oh and another question: How about freedom of 'controversial' expression? What is the stance there? Can people make muhammed cartoon pages pages and what not? (example taken from FB's history) And will they mind if they then get banned in some countries? There are many countries that ban sites for perceived insults to various things, like pakistan and thailand and turkey and many others.
As a user of Diaspora, I can give a few facts:
it's purpose is not to collect your user data and sell it to advertisers unlike G+ and FB.
you can use any name you like unlike G+ and FB.
you can control your data more than on G+ and facebook.
your can/will be able to use your own external services unlike g+ and FB.
there will be no top-down 'police' banning your or you comments
you can host your own 'pod' so you can take it off-line if you need/want
and its floss(so anyone can make it better) to suit new needs. No need to wait for FB/G to improve things.
and it uses encryption to transactions
they also allow you to contribute to its upkeep as hosting,bandwidth and development are their expenses.
On FB and G+, you pay with your personal data and the advertising you get. So there is no 'free'. Just no money for FB/G+.
The freemium model has worked plenty in the past. Three are plenty of people who put out money to keep a cause going voluntarily. Consider the Humble Bundle. Pleanty of money annually. Keep going, no worries. Don't let the FBZombies get you down.
You can easily get an invitation in the alpha, they give them like candies now: https://twitter.com/#!/DiasporaInvites
Diasporia is an open source social network. Please read about it before you comment. There is no central site to monetize.
users already pay, and pay a lot. it's a gift based economy, ppl drop in 3-5 bucks a month. Believe it or not, it's enough to make the whole enterprise bloom!
So, basically you're saying you'll never monetize your site. In other words, you have to make your members pay in order to cover the costs, or you'll never be able to survive.
Yeah, like that'll happen.
Goodbye, Diaspora, we hardly knew you.