Part of that is making it monetizable. Influencers can build huge followings (and make some cash) because existing platforms recommend their content to other users.

Mastodon devs have chosen not to provide recommendations and quote posts. That's reasonable, but it reduces the utility of the platform, and it cedes space to Twitter & co.

To my knowledge, the only creator that's exclusive to Lemmy is the unix surrealism author. Until it's easy to monetize content, we're gonna have a hard time attracting creators, and a hard time attracting users.

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 4 days ago (6 children)

I'd rather have one unix surrealism than a thousand influencers with lots of followers. These days, I want to be among people who interact as equals, who share ideas, who cooperate in a genuine way. If we try a shortcut to more users through money, what is the point?

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I want to be among people who interact as equals, who share ideas, who cooperate in a genuine way.

I think online journalism might be a good example of influencers and users interacting as equals. Users provide extra information, ask questions, reify, and help highlight where the journalist can focus. The journalist does the leg work to produce novel news.

If we try a shortcut to more users through money, what is the point?

To build an interesting, self sustaining network, where people can express themselves fully, and understand each other.

The features I'm suggesting would benefit everyone: a decent view of trending topics/posts/tags; mod-controlled tags; stuff like that. Most users would find them helpful, but a few could use it to build a livelihood that others value.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The journalist does the leg work to produce novel news.

Just to add that in addition to novelty, journalists provide valuable services, like

holding up a mirror to the present culture
documenting and disseminating happenings
packaging up events into narratives

Not to say that you weren't including these in "novel news," but just to make it explicit.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

Absolutely - I wanted to list interactions between regular users and someone who makes money with a platform.

After a bunch of Twitter users (including journalists) bounced off Mastodon when Elon bought it, the fediverse needs to understand why, and think about what it means to be a viable platform.

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