Lemmy is like that to some extent. The fact that users have to pick an instance is, for a lot of people, too much overload and drives them away. But I see it as a filter. You have to have some absolute minimum baseline level of understanding and proficiency of the platform you’re using. That’s why the massive number of people on Facebook, etc. are oblivious to how they’re being exploited by the platform, because they don’t understand what it is or how it works.
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Smartphones ruined the internet.
When you needed to sit at a computer, use a keyboard, and spend a bit of time to write out thoughtful content, the quality of the discussion and community on the internet was so much higher. With smartphones, they had to dumb down the UI, consolidate content and reactions into likes and emojis, and generally just had to deal with smaller, more unsubstantive and rage-baity comments.
Plus, there’s just the undeniable fact that computer users are more tech-savvy than people who only know how to use a smartphone. Making the internet smartphone friendly opened the floodgates up to a sea of low-quality engagement.
Before smartphones, we would go outside, live our lives, then come home and see what happened on the internet that day. When the internet started following us around in our pockets on crippled devices that are designed for consumption and cheap-ass engagement, that’s really when the internet went to shit.
Internet tech companies have perfected the art of enshittifying a service. Internet services these days practically follow a playbook of, 1.) hook users, 2.) build a walled garden, 3.) exploit users. Basically the EEE of the user-driven web. Pretty much every company at this point, both old and new (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Reddit, TikTok, Discord, Twitter, Netflix) follow this exact pattern.
Modern UI design, dark patterns, deprecating services while raising prices, “install our app!”, etc. We didn’t have this in the days of IRC, Usenet, all that other good stuff before corporate web came around.
capital5@discuss.tchncs.deto
Open Source@lemmy.ml•Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users
48·29 days agoRemember when Microsoft was forced to give a “select your web browser” prompt when setting up a Windows computer?
Quaint times, those were…
It’s solid because it’s so simple. And the documentation is great too - the handbook has everything you need!
Sounds like the distro is kinda of a clown show (see this comment: https://reddthat.com/comment/28643289), but it is really nice to see derivative distros coming off of Void. To me, it’s a sign that Void is gaining more relevance in the community which is great because I really think it’s the best distro out there these days.
capital5@discuss.tchncs.deto
Europe@feddit.org•Finland tried to end homelessness. What can we learn from its runaway success – and recent failures?English
13·1 month agoThey are sociopaths, so they thrive on making others insecure
capital5@discuss.tchncs.deto
Linux@lemmy.ml•Canadians have a historic opportunity to punch Microsoft in the face
31·1 month agoAnd stop paying for Windows while we’re busy getting rid of it!

The best way to stop far-right parties is for non-far-right parties to get off their asses and start fixing the problems our society is facing. To be specific, prioritizing financial security and stability for regular people above all else - even the “economy”.
Or to put it in simpler terms: we’re fucked.