The mastodon and lemmy content I’m seeing feels like 90% of it comes from people who are:

  • ~30 years old or older

  • tech enthusiasts/workers

  • linux users

There’s nothing wrong with that particular demographic or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a win to me if the entire fediverse is just one big monoculture.

I wonder what it is that is keeping more diverse users away? Is picking a server/federation too complicated? Or is it that they don’t see any content that they like?

Thoughts?

  • ZagTheRaccoon@reddthat.comEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    aka: early tech adopters!

    these folk are always the ones trying new things, especially anti-corporate things. They aren’t keeping people away. this is just how the bleeding edge of new technology. The communities natural grow out over time as more people show up and start to outnumber them. But it’s thanks to them that niche new stuff gets supported in the first place while it builds up it’s audience (and reduces the friction to joining)

    • pythoneer@programming.devEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      In reddit’s early days, it was exactly like this. I remember that it felt like a Linux user forum, but with some conspiracy theorists. I actually feel that lemmy is a little more diverse than that.

  • Ghostc1212@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    I’m Gen Z, don’t use Linux, don’t know the first thing about programming (I know how to use file explorer though), and never intend to learn, and I’m here because I don’t wanna use the official Reddit app and because I’m convinced that the Fediverse is likely to become big in the future and I wanna be able to say I was here when it all began.

  • wolfcatreader@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    Trash culture, TikTok and the likes. The gen z folx I know don’t seem to prioritize privacy and quality content. Some know it and don’t seem to care even after getting hacked/scammed.

    Living vicariously through influencers, likes, and whatnot. Being cool, blending in…

  • varoth@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    There just needs to be automatic instance assignment for new users with registration time opt-out for those who want to choose. Pick whichever one is the most populated. If that’s down at that particular moment in time, pick the next most populated and so on. Take the instance picking out of the equation for people who don’t care about that. People who do care can still pick their own.

    That being said, it’s difficult to grow a new website in general unless it’s already got established backing from other source (i.e. a large corporation, celebrity, etc.), It’s not like old days in the 90s when there were far fewer websites in general.

  • vettnerk@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    *looks at self*:

    • 40
    • nerd
    • chief amongst my nerddoms being tech

    I feel both insulted and understood at the same time

  • Obinice@lemmy.worldEnglish
    41·
    9 months ago

    Woah now, who said people over 30 are old? 😮

    Anyway, your average internet user in 2023 wants to sign in to a platform with ease (preferably using one tap sign in with their Facebook/Google/whatever account).

    They also want that one platform to have everything, in an easy to access and digest format, without having to learn complex rules about how a system works.

    The days of needing to understand a bunch of stuff to use the latest social media service are gone, and if we build a website/service that requires us to know and understand more complex stuff, and add more barriers to entry, and MOST IMPORTANTLY if we split it up in to a thousand little corners instead of having it all in one place? People will shy away.

    Another issue is consistency. People, myself included, want consistency and accountability. I want the people running the platform to be publicly known figures/companies that are accountable for the platform and how they run it, but with this fediverse stuff, it can be run by any anonymous person, who could be doing anything with the private data in our account back ends. And that could be the case hundreds of times over, with all sorts of groups, from all around the world.

    There’s no accountability, no way to ensure they’re meeting requirements of our laws. It’s all very untrustworthy and wild west.

    That’s fine for some people, but the majority of normal users? They want security, they want safety, they want simple ease of use.

    • Die4Ever@programming.devEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      (preferably using one tap sign in with their Facebook/Google/whatever account).

      Kbin can actually do this, so no reason why Lemmy couldn’t

  • Coeus@coeus.sbsEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I’m 36. I’m tired of everybody taking my money. I’m tired of corporations. I’m here to get away from that.

  • khoi@slrpnk.netEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    Hmm, not sure. But I’m in my 20s and I love to advocate for privacy and decentralization.

  • grizzledgrizzly@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I am 46 and started my career in tech but now work in another industry. I think it’s people with inquisitive minds rather than an age demographic. If there is something new and cool to check out in tech and it’s easy enough for busy people to understand I am all over it.