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On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

businessweek.com

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Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#21

Post by fumar »

I have been on Diaspora for a while. At first it was interesting. A mixture of tumblr facebook and twitter. I really enjoyed having a facebook style community with GIFs.

Then nothing happened. The user base stagnated. I am unsure if it was because the site was glitch ridden. Or people just do not care about privacy. Words are one thing, but actions speak. Many of my facebook friends will post anti-facebook privacy news links. Yet, they have not joined Diaspora or have left facebook.

It is interesting that they are in YC though.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#22

Post by natep »

drjay wrote: post #12

I thought this was an open source project run by volunteers, I was aware of the kickstarter donations, but did not think there was a business structure that had been set up? Is that the case? Otherwise what does this have to do with yc? (why investors if there's nothing to invest in?) And if there is an investable business there, what exactly is the revenue stream? Honestly curious, can someone explain?

The project is run and was started by the team asking for backing on Kickstarter. The article hinted at various ways they could make money. I think the most promising would be to allow advertisers on the servers they run, and let them have whatever data their users choose to share. Just because users own their data doesn't mean they will always choose to hide it from advertisers.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#23

Post by shmerl »

fumar wrote: post #21

I have been on Diaspora for a while. At first it was interesting. A mixture of tumblr facebook and twitter. I really enjoyed having a facebook style community with GIFs. Then nothing happened. The user base stagnated. I am unsure if it was because the site was glitch ridden. Or people just do not care about privacy. Words are one thing, but actions speak. Many of my facebook friends will post anti-facebook privacy ne…

On the contrary, I see a constant influx of new users joining, and lot's of active very interesting topics. Diaspora can be an interesting place, or look like a stagnated wasteland depending on how you use it, and your skill in applying hashtags.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#24

Post by sp332 »

nnnnni wrote: post #5

In other news, Business Week is two years behind. Also, what's the deal with the fake-vintage effect on the pictures? Is it their lame corporate way of attempting to be "hip"?

It's not fake vintage, it's neo-nostalgia. It's not pretending to be old, it's inviting the user to feel old-timey.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#25

Post by darksaga »

I'm actually glad they are continuing on and fighting the stigma of the "best social network that never was".

I have used Diaspora's site for a while and prefer it to Facebook and Google+. The problem is trying to maintain three separate social networks. Since most of the people I like to keep up with are on FB and G+, my use of Diaspora has slowed down over the past year or so.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#27

Post by dnsco »

nnnnni wrote: post #5

In other news, Business Week is two years behind. Also, what's the deal with the fake-vintage effect on the pictures? Is it their lame corporate way of attempting to be "hip"?

Actually the Vintage effect isn't fake, the photographer only used vintage film cameras.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#28

Post by AznHisoka »

va_coder wrote: post #6

When it's finally released the plan is to change the name right? Diaspora sounds like horrible disease.

This. Can you picture someone telling someone about this site in a conversation? How would you even pronounce it? They need to fix this before moving on to anything else.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#29

Post by fromhet »

darksaga wrote: post #25

I'm actually glad they are continuing on and fighting the stigma of the "best social network that never was". I have used Diaspora's site for a while and prefer it to Facebook and Google+. The problem is trying to maintain three separate social networks. Since most of the people I like to keep up with are on FB and G+, my use of Diaspora has slowed down over the past year or so.

What kind of people use G+?

Only times I visit is when linked, and it's often some OSS-guru who has written something there but I dont ever use it, nor does anyone I know, not even remotely.

Re: On Diaspora's Social Network, You Own Your Data

#30

Post by shmerl »

darksaga wrote: post #25

I'm actually glad they are continuing on and fighting the stigma of the "best social network that never was". I have used Diaspora's site for a while and prefer it to Facebook and Google+. The problem is trying to maintain three separate social networks. Since most of the people I like to keep up with are on FB and G+, my use of Diaspora has slowed down over the past year or so.

That depends on your contacts. I use just Diaspora, and not Facebook or Google+.
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