this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2023
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Fediverse

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The mastodon and lemmy content I’m seeing feels like 90% of it comes from people who are:

  • ~30 years old or older

  • tech enthusiasts/workers

  • linux users

There’s nothing wrong with that particular demographic or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a win to me if the entire fediverse is just one big monoculture.

I wonder what it is that is keeping more diverse users away? Is picking a server/federation too complicated? Or is it that they don’t see any content that they like?

Thoughts?

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[–] whereisdani_r 15 points 2 years ago

FB was only for college kids, now it's for your grandparents.

Absolutely tick those boxes. And it makes perfect sense.

[–] Ddhuud 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I'm 3 for 3.

4 for 4 of you separate item 2.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

30 is just a baby. My son is 30. Im late 50’s.

I think older techies are just sick of all the bullshit regarding corporate aocial/web etc. A lot of us went to linux to escape windows hell for same reasons. Tech is abused to unfathomable levels so we do what we can to limit it.

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[–] TORFdot0 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Uhm I’m a Mac user sweaty. But yeah the rest applies lol

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Why does the Mac make you sweaty?

[–] BreadstickNinja 14 points 2 years ago

Substandard heat management

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Before seeing this post, I didn't see a reason to make an account instead of just lurking, but now I made an account because I feel more special.

If this was your plan all along, you have my utmost respect.

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[–] t0m5k1 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As a 49 year old IT worker I think you guessed well lol.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Fucking zoomers with their tiktoks and snapchats, what was so wrong with old school forums?

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[–] Crow 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is why I’m single as a 24 year old woman.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

am teenager

[–] UnicornKitty 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I mostly fit that description. While I understand what you're saying, we all have other interests on top of this. That's what makes it diverse.

Personally, I feel like a more mature audience is needed. I have never liked the feel of places like Facebook, tiktok, etc. Let me have one place where I can pretend the world isn't overrun with stupidity. There is actual conversation on topics to be had, and people aren't jerks to others for no reason.

The fediverse is somewhat complicated to understand. Maybe like usenet or other such places.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

Age 16 here. I'm getting old, eh?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

I'm a younger tech nerd, but I do use linux.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (3 children)
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[–] merryflag0655 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I think more average users have just never heard about lemmy. At least it's like that for most people in my social circle.

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[–] MrShankles 13 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Well... damn. I'm mid-30's; Tech is (definitely) kind of a hobby of mine; and I use Linux for learning, experimenting, and... uhh, tech hobby stuff lol. I can solder a little, and sometimes it actually works!

Maybe it's because that cohort is the fastest to adopt. We grew up with a rapidly changing internet, we're kinda used to navigating the glitches/unfamiliarity, and it's just more familiar (to us) in a "back-to-basics" way. I feel like I've entered a nostalgic "place" that has become better since I last visited.

With Memmy for ios going full-live, the multitude of 3rd party apps at full throttle, and Facebook ready with "Threads" - this just seems like the first wave of what could be a hell of a storm. The content will increase and diversify, that's inevitable now.

The question is: do people want to be responsible for maintaining a user-controlled platform? Or would they prefer an operator help to connect us? We'll see, but I guarantee there will be some fresh af memes coming through here in the mean time, so no worries

Hell, while you're here... throw some of those old ass memes (or almost any pic you've got saved on your phone) onto [email protected]

Be the change you want to see and shit

Or don't, it's not like anyone can really judge you when you're anonymous... but you'll know. Months from now, when you're lying in bed, unable to sleep because you were complicit in the apathy; you'll wonder if it could have been different. You'll try to bury the intrusive thoughts and "what ifs", but you'll always wonder...

"Could it have actually worked? Might we have taken claim to a piece of independence in the future of world communications?!"

... and the thought slips away, as you mainline another 40 min of memes directly into you're neurotransmitter reservoir, for sustenance and maintenence

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Well.. I'm 36 yo physician, an orthopedic surgeon resident. But I do LOVE tech&gaming. I want to switch from reddit because my favorite app boost stopped working and the creator is developing a boost app for lemmy. Oh and the official reddit app is just shit. I do hope lemmy will get bigger.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

I am younger than 25, but I’m a Sys-Admin.

However my mother also uses the Fediverse and has nearly to none technical knowledge.

Also my cousin who’s 15 uses it. And some friends of mine who are between 18 to 26 use it without being what you typically would call a nerd.

So I think for the majority it applies but there are also people here not fitting in this sector.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

That's why it's less toxic? No teens?

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[–] BigMike 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think the federation system is quite a barricade for some people. I recently changed over to Lemmy from Reddit, and it was quite challenging to first understand how it worked. Also I am not sure that I even now understand how this works fully.

Also the smaller community on Lemmy might be a turn-off for some people.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago
  • I'm under 30
  • I use my PC for 3D render art as a hobby but otherwise I'm not a tech enthusiast
  • I don't use Linux.

With that said, early adopters are often tech enthusiasts. As the user base grows, so will the content and diversify itself.

[–] aidan 12 points 2 years ago (4 children)
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

Hey, I'm not old!

Shit, wait, yes I am.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (3 children)

So exactly what Digg and Reddit where to begin with. The tech people are first and then everyone else comes over. Only this time I think the everyone else are staying on Reddit.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

Yup. That's me.

[–] deviantkhaaos 11 points 2 years ago

Just so we are clear.. Reddit was the same, likely before your time. But sites like Digg and Reddit were for nerds but over time it brought in other 'communities' in a forum type style. Build it and they will come. (also you're likely too old for that reference too, but its all good) I like the less 'normy' experience.

[–] Capricorny90210 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Generalization of course, but the younger generation isn't always as tech savvy as one might assume, and I'd imagine they prefer the easy "sign in and scroll" apps

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

The Reddit migration was probably mostly people who know what an API is so that fits your demographic.

Also, people generally don’t take a stance on something unless it affects them personally. So API, privacy, data collection etc just doesn’t register.

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