The “fediverse” is a collection of social media platforms that can communicate with each other. Meta announced that Threads, with over 130 million monthly active users, would be joining the fediverse. This means Threads users will have more opportunities to share their posts across platforms like Mastodon. Opting into fediverse sharing on Threads is simple, but Meta’s involvement with the fediverse raises questions about the future of open source, decentralized social media.
The fediverse is made up of federated social media platforms that operate under open-source, decentralized ActivityPub protocols. These protocols allow different social media platforms to interact and share content. The biggest platforms in the fediverse currently are Mastodon, Threads, and WordPress. Mastodon is particularly significant because it is a decentralized platform that allows users to join individual servers, rather than operate on one main website.
Joining the fediverse on Threads means that your account and posts will be discoverable on all other platforms within the fediverse. While this expands the reach of your posts, Meta cautions that they cannot moderate or control what happens to your content on other servers. The hope is that people will be able to access content from different platforms without needing to sign up for multiple accounts. The decision to join the fediverse is part of Meta’s efforts to integrate ActivityPub protocols into Threads.
The future implications of Meta’s involvement in the fediverse remain uncertain. Some experts are concerned that Meta’s entry may have unintended consequences for the decentralized network. The integration of Threads with ActivityPub protocols is expected to be a year-long process, highlighting the challenges of adopting new technologies within existing platforms. How Meta’s entrance into the fediverse will shape the future of open-source, decentralized social media is a topic of debate among users and experts.
To turn on cross-posting on Threads and Mastodon, users can follow a simple process within the Threads app. Once activated, your Threads account will be searchable across the entire fediverse. Posts made on Threads going forward will be discoverable on other platforms within the fediverse. However, users should be mindful that there are limitations to what can be cross-posted initially, and there may be a delay in the sharing process. If users choose to turn off fediverse sharing, there is a 30-day waiting period before it can be reactivated. Ultimately, the integration of Threads into the fediverse represents a significant development in the evolution of social media platforms.
