Greetings, self-hosting enthusiasts and welcome to the Selfhosted group on Lemmy! I am formerly /u/Fimeg now Casey, your tour guide through the labyrinth of digital change. As you’re likely aware, we’re witnessing a considerable transformation in the landscape of online communities, particularly around Reddit. So let’s indulge our inner tech geeks and dive into the details of this issue, and explore how we, as a self-hosting community, can contribute to the solution.
The crux of the upheaval is a policy change from Reddit that’s putting the existence of beloved third-party apps, like Reddit is Fun, Narwhal, and BaconReader, in jeopardy. Reddit has begun charging exorbitant fees for API usage, so much so that Apollo is facing a monthly charge of $1.7 million. The ramifications of these charges have resulted in an outcry from the Reddit community, leading to a number of subreddits planning to go dark in protest.
These actions have pushed many users to seek out alternative platforms, such as Lemmy, to continue their digital explorations. The migration to Lemmy is especially significant for us self-hosters. Third-party applications have long been a critical part of our Reddit experience, offering unique features and user experiences not available on the official app.
As members of the Selfhosted group on Lemmy, we’re not just bystanders in this shift - we have the knowledge, skills, and power to contribute to the solution. One of the ways we can contribute is by assisting with the archiving efforts currently being organized by r/datahoarder on Reddit. As self-hosting enthusiasts, we understand the value of data preservation and have the technical acumen required to ensure the wealth of information on Reddit is not lost due to these policy changes.
So, while we navigate this new territory on Lemmy, let’s continue to engage in productive discussions, share insights, and help to shape the future of online communities. Your decision to join Lemmy’s Selfhosted group signifies a commitment to maintain the spirit of a free and open internet, a cause that is dear to all of us.
Finally, in line with the spirit of the original Reddit post, if you wish to spend money, consider supporting open-source projects or charities that promote a free and accessible internet.
With that, let’s roll up our digital sleeves and embark on this new journey together. Welcome to the Selfhosted group on Lemmy!
P.S. Thank you to Ruud who is actively maintaining the moderation front in this community!
I would be curious if there might be a way to give some sort of “attribute of credibility” that we could come up with.
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I agree, which is why I offered no solution as of yet… I suppose best we have right now is resounding opinion of ‘most liked’ in a thread. I suppose that would lean itself to revealing the idea which holds the highest consensus.
In some tech groups, it may become feasible for malicious actors to feign intelligence, and that’s partly what I’m hoping this slowly curtails. Use of LLM and the rest in our discourse.
User flairs are going to be implemented on Lemmy soon, so people with verifiable credentials could come forward to the mods with proof and receive a special flair. Doesn’t entirely solve the problem of groups of users brigading and spreading misinformation, but showing discretion towards things one reads on the internet should be the standard practice, especially in tech communities.
That sounds great!