Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival' • Hacker News Board

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#241

Post by dbuder » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 9:36 AM UTC

varjag wrote: post #57

organsnyder wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google+ only had that many users because many other Google properties (YouTube being the biggest) were lumped in together. I bet the majority of Google+ "users" weren't even aware that the platform existed.

Right, it would grab you by YT and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Effectively it was also world's largest deanonymization effort. Must have been some hefty internal incentives program at Google, they tried as if their bonus depended on it.

I remember fighting it and failing, I was like what! I said no a dozen different ways and here is my full name.

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#242

Post by detaro » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 10:04 AM UTC

freehunter wrote: post #219

detaro wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A word for chatting is somehow unsuitable as a name because you have to say the horrible 4-letter word "butt"?

An archaic word that was only chosen because it includes the word “butt”?

Given the history of SSB, it seems quite unlikely that's the case. Originally developed by and for someone living on a boat, they used a nautical term to name the project.

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#243

Post by corobo » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 10:12 AM UTC

“Flock to” might be a bit much. I’ve registered there in case it takes off, but I’ve not used it even half as much as a social network might want

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#244

Post by corobo » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 10:15 AM UTC

DebtDeflation wrote: post #45

I signed up, was waitlisted (number 180-thousand something on the list), sent out a couple of invites to friends with the url it generates, as soon as one of them accepted, it gave me access. So I guess if you don't want to pay the $13/month, you can avoid it by getting a friend to join.

I didn’t even share it, just loaded my own share link and it let me in

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#245

Post by bamboozled » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 10:46 AM UTC

MiroF wrote: post #237

bamboozled wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair point. I guess what I was trying to say is that they're different formats and they encourage different types of engagement. What I meant is, I don't miss the type of experience that Facebook provided at all. Instagram feels more like entertainment and the engagement seems more "trivial" to me. I can passively consume or participate in if I have nothing better to do, else I don't miss it. Facebook started to turn…

Yes, but the problem with FB that Wales is trying to solve is the incentive structure created by advertising and the associated data privacy issues. Usage of IG leaves that dynamic essentially intact.

Yup, I don't really have an issue with the advertisement model as is with IG because it's been a fantastic incentive for me not to look at it :)

However, Wales' mission is noble and I hope he does well!

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#246

Post by KuhlMensch » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 11:00 AM UTC

emptybottle wrote: post #70

To all the people poking fun at "thousands"... You have to start somewhere, and I'm sure you'd be tickled pink to see thousands of new users signing up for your app...

Its not the number which makes me chuckle, its the relative importance the number is given, and the associated tone. A sensible headline would be:

"Wikipedia have launched a social media site, based around sharing news"

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#247

Post by tiborsaas » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 11:14 AM UTC

bonoboTP wrote: post #49

What a horrible name. How do I even pronounce it? "Double-u-tee social"? Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, especially for non-native English speakers.

It's pronounced "The wikipedia guy social network" :)

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#248

Post by viraptor » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 11:55 AM UTC

Semiapies wrote: post #226

hnuser77 wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Technically speaking, the largest Mastodon instance is full of content that isn't exactly allowed on traditional social media (i.e. far-right extremism). See https://fediverse.network/

Which is going to be an anti-selling point for a lot of people.

It depends how well the blocking features will be advertised. "Lots of extremists have converged at xxx.social. You can block them all in one go." sounds better to me than what's happening in Twitter.

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#249

Post by upofadown » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 12:56 PM UTC

It doesn't sound like this actually federates with anything else. So how is this not just another pointless silo?

Re: Thousands flock to Wikipedia founder's 'Facebook rival'

#250

Post by mikorym » Wed, Nov 20, 2019, 1:01 PM UTC

upofadown wrote: post #249

It doesn't sound like this actually federates with anything else. So how is this not just another pointless silo?

> It doesn't sound like this actually federates with anything else.

I think it's for the people who consider that a feature.