Wasn't web3 about everything being under control of a handful of mega corps that own everything? So more like web4 then.

I do not like using Web3 to refer to federated platforms. Indeed, Web3 is strongly associated with blockchains, cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

It certainly feels nostalgic to me being on here. I miss the days of webrings and message boards and just crawling ever forward into unknown new places. I was a kid then though, so I thought it was just me becoming wiser/more tech-savvy. Now I realize how freaky all the consolidation is. Even some video game modding communities now have more of a presence on reddit than anywhere else. It's convenient but so weird.

I agree with u/Pelicanen that it feels like the uncertain times of the early internet where things were hosted by individuals and their really small websites. I don't know to what extent it will catch on (although Discord is huge with milleninals/Gen Z, no?) but it's interesting to imagine a world where the internet is primarily large consumer/business-facing websites and then highly decentralized communities.

Related: https://web3isgoinggreat.com

feels like a modern take on usenet/newsgroups/bbs.

You pick your local server and your chosen feeds and enjoy.

I hope as more small servers start up and die that we don't just end up with a small number of mega size servers though, that goes against the point.

Yeah I feel the same too. And I think decentralization is the only way to web3.

Distributed networks are very very complex to make. But decentralized networks have the simplicity and features of centralized networks with the addition of freedom that distributed networks give.

The best of both worlds really.

The crypto side of web3 definitely felt way more "consumerist minded" with the way wallets were able to connect to multiple websites(exchanges) in order to "buy" things(alt/shitcoins). But federated social media feels like a much better use of decentralization so far.

yeah, i love this new paradigm. i don't understand it but i hope it'll lead to a better experience with cool usability features later on. hopefully a good buffer against evil & suits & etc

i love how post URLs have numbers now. you can get dubs and trips!

I'm enjoying the lemmy.world experience, and I believe decentralised social networking could be the future. I am a refugee from Reddit and hopeful there is hope for a open, community focused platform.

As for this platform, I am apprehensive about somebody running the server I have my account with having the power to remove my account and my posts, but I guess this is true of any network in existence.

My concern in the long run is who pays for the hardware and energy costs even if it is federated. Without some kind of reliable funding model who will pay the bills?

Hopeful for many enjoyable encounters in the Fediverse.

I think we as users defining the future of the web would be a great outcome. Here's to the start of a long project.

I've been arguing for more decentralization for a long time now and have been shifting as much of my usage to self hosted services as possible over the past few years. I'm glad to see others picking up the cause. <3