Who can reply?https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/06/who-can-reply/
-
Who can reply?
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/06/who-can-reply/Vague thoughts as they enter my brainbox.
The BlueSky social network has introduced "Reply Gating" - it looks like this:
You can write your hot take on Taylor Swift and not be inundated by weirdos replying to you. Nifty!
This is nothing new. Twitter has it. Facebook has the concept of "audiences" to restrict who your post is visible to.
And, of course, blogging has this! There is a comment form at the bottom of this page - and I moderate it. If you post something stupid, I don't have to subject my audience to your inanities. I can (and do) block users from commenting.
ActivityPub doesn't have this (yet). It's much more like a public mailing list. I can block or mute you - which stops me from seeing your abuse - but doesn't stop anyone else from seeing it.
Should ActivityPub have something similar? Yeah, I reckon so. I'd like to be able to say "Anyone I know want to go to the pub tonight" and only have mutuals reply. I want to prune away spam or repetitive replies. It would be helpful to have a conversation in public that other people can't interrupt.
The UI would be complex. And the social model needs a bit of work. And there are some technical challenges around syndicating which replies should be included.
But, ultimately, social media should respond to the needs of its users.
-
BeAware :fediverse:replied to Terence Eden’s Blog on last edited by
@blog I worry deeply about misinformation once this gets implemented...
It's VERY easy to start a new instance and post seemingly normal things to gain a following. Anyone being able to post any bullshit they want, unchecked, will be a major issue if not quickly addressed.
