Top decentralized Twitter alternatives you should use (and why)

Twitter is one of the most popular social networks in the world, but not without its problems. In recent years, the network has been overshadowed by allegations of censorship, condoning harassment, spreading fake news, and creating a hostile space, especially for minorities.

Many people see site problems as part of a broader centralization problem. Thus, in theory, decentralized social media could be the key to creating a more transparent alternative to Twitter. Luckily, there are two decentralized social media sites you can try right now; Mastodon и Peepeth .

Let's see how these two alternatives add up.

Mastodon vs Twitter

Mastodon technically not a social network. It's actually an open source suite of software that allows anyone to run their own Twitter-style social network.

How is Mastodon decentralized?

This is the foundation of Mastodon's decentralization. Instead of one company, such as Twitter, which controls all the data, they are distributed among several Mastodon servers. Mastodon servers are located around the world and have their own rules of conduct.

You might be thinking that a niche social network created by your local sports club would be some sort of limitation – and you would be right. The strength of Twitter is that it allows everyone to join the conversations going on around the world. Mastodon's segmented servers don't give the same global conversation. That's why Mastodon is part of the Fediverse, a collection of social networks that can communicate with each other.

More structured content

When you load Twitter, only one timeline appears with content from the people you follow. Mastodon has three timelines; Home, Location и Federated ... The Home timeline shows content from people you follow. The local timeline applies to everyone on your server. The federation timeline displays everything again to display content from the entire federation.

This approach means you can stay within the server of your choice, chat with the people you follow, or find out what's going on globally - but you don't have to. On Twitter, it can be difficult to avoid, say, politics, even with silent word options.

Data portability

Data portability is also a Twitter issue. If you decide to leave the network, you will still leave your digital profile. This may include contacts you’ve recruited over several years, and any content you’ve created. And even if you could export it, there is nowhere to import it either. Mastodon makes data portability easy. Don't like the server you're on, or want to change it? Just go to your profile settings and export the data. After setting up on a new server, it takes only a few seconds to import your account data.

Peepeth vs Twitter

Since the launch of Bitcoin, blockchain has become one of the most popular methods of decentralization. Although Mastodon is a decentralized social network, it is not based on blockchain. This is very important as there is a school that believes blockchain can pave the way for a truly decentralized internet.

Improved social interaction

Peepeth is one of the more well-known blockchain-based Twitter alternatives available today. Like many decentralized applications (DApps), Peepeth is based on the Ethereum blockchain.

In those cases where Mastodon tries to solve Twitter problems through social interaction and server selection, Peepeth takes a more technical approach. The ad revenue model that traditional social networks prefer means that they don’t behave or make decisions in the interests of the end user. Instead, channels are processed, sponsored posts are sponsored, and the goal is to increase participation at all costs, even if social costs are negative.

Peepeth is ad-free and encourages you to be careful in your responses. Unlike Twitter, where you can easily turn off a tweet during the hottest moment, Peepeth opens a reminder before sending your message. The reminder makes you think about what you are going to post. It also mentions that the message will always be stored on the blockchain. The popup, along with the persistence of your post, is designed to make you really think about whether you want to chat with other Peepeth users.

Intelligent Moderation

Users still must adhere to their Terms of Service, and messages that do not meet the requirements will be stored on the blockchain, but will not be displayed in Peepeth. There are alternatives if you are looking for an unmoderated network; Peepeth even points you in their direction on their About page. The network also fights spam using blockchain. Maintaining a post on the blockchain is financially worthwhile.

However, this is provided free to the end user, as Peepeth takes all costs. If an account is caught publishing spam, it loses the right to publish for free, which increases the cost of spam. Once you confirm that you really want to save your message, you need to confirm and write it to the block chain. To do this, you need to install the MetaMask browser extension.

MetaMask connects you to the Ethereum network and is an intermediary between Peepeth and the blockchain. Even though you don't need to post your posts (Tweet version from Peepeth), you still need to store Ethereum cryptocurrency in your MetaMask account. This allows you to confirm blockchain transactions, but it also serves a different purpose. Like the decentralized alternative to Reddit Steemit, Peepeth helps you monetize your content by letting others advise you.

Twitter's best decentralized alternative: Mastodon vs. Peepeth

Although both networks offer different perspectives on a decentralized social network, there are some key differences.

Difficulty setting

The most notable is blockchain. Mastodon has a fairly low login barrier as you only need to select a server and create an account. For Peepeth to work in your browser, you need to use the MetaMask extension, which connects you to the Ethereum blockchain.

For those who have used DApps in the past, this shouldn't be an obstacle. However, it does have an impact on the network. Peepeth currently has a large community of blockchain and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. This does not mean that other things are not discussed on the net, but it is highly skewed for one type of user and area of ​​interest.

Since Peepeth requires MetaMask to be installed in a web browser, network access is difficult for mobile devices. First, you need to install a mobile DApp browser or cryptocurrency wallet and import the MetaMask start phrase. Then go to the Peepeth website in your DApp browser and it should be logged in.

This contrasts sharply with Mastodon. Although there is no official Mastodon mobile app, there are many third-party solutions, many of which are also open source. Some of these applications even support the broader Fediverse, which allows you, in particular, to log into your diaspora, PixelFed, PeerTube or NextCloud accounts.

Terms of Use

Peepeth operates under uniform terms of service. Mastodon has multiple servers with different codes of conduct and terms of service, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. By far the most popular Mastodon server is the network mastodon.social . It is considered an entry-level server and has the largest number of users, giving you the best alternative to Twitter.

Level of decentralization

All of this may sound as if the balance is in favor of Mastodon. However, Mastodon is not completely decentralized. Data is still controlled by the server operator, and it is possible to delete or edit messages. This setting complicates the harassment and trolling so common on Twitter, but not on 100%.

Since Peepeth is based on the Ethereum blockchain, it is completely decentralized. Data is constantly recorded on the blockchain and is a historical record of what was published. Obfuscation is common on Twitter, where people delete messages or change screenshots to create a false version of events. This is not possible in Peepeth.

Which decentralized alternative to Twitter do you join?

Distrust of popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter is growing. Both platforms were accused of manipulating users in their quest for ever-growing growth and profits. This distrust forces users to satisfy their interests elsewhere.

Decentralized networks have every opportunity to overcome these obstacles. Mastodon is currently the most popular decentralized social network. . However, it may still be vulnerable to some of the same issues that plague Twitter. Peepeth is a truly decentralized blockchain-based social network. Yes, there are more barriers to entry, but it could end up being a more viable decentralized network.

Many of us rely on large technology companies to verify our digital identity. Whether it’s an email address, a social network account or a personal landing page, companies control your identity on the Internet. However, decentralization can also help you move away from these platforms that require data.