Techdirt
The Rise Of The Open Social Web
May 6, 2025
Mike McCue, founder of Flipboard and a former Twitter board member, discusses the shift towards decentralization in the digital world. He shares insights on his new app, Surf, designed to empower users on the open social web. The conversation dives into the importance of platforms like Blue Sky and Mastodon, the potential of decentralized protocols, and how they can reshape user experiences. McCue also touches on the role of AI in social media, advocating for user control over algorithms to foster authentic interactions.
53:26
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Quick takeaways
- Mike McCue advocates for the return of user control in a decentralized internet, contrasting it with today's centralized social media landscape.
- Surf, McCue's new application, aims to enhance user engagement across platforms by integrating diverse content feeds without proprietary limitations.
Deep dives
The Shift Towards Decentralization
The conversation highlights a growing movement towards a decentralized internet, contrasting it against the current model dominated by a handful of large companies. A key figure in this shift is Mike McHugh, who has been an advocate for decentralized social media platforms, like Mastodon and Blue Sky. He emphasizes that the initial promise of the internet, which democratized content sharing and access, has been compromised by centralized control. This evolving landscape aims to restore ownership and control back to individual users, fostering a more open and pro-social web.
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