Post by @hl@social.lol

2026-07-23 14:30 UTC

@andycarolan@social.lol @bendaubney@social.lol @purplelime@social.lol I feel we've got used to the idea of global reach and that you're participating in a conversation with millions of people. Except that doesn't work very well, even if a 'global conversation' would seem like the end goal, and then to filter that firehose you need some kind of algorithm that adds its own biased etc. Here I think it's actually more 'social'; interacting with real people, with the potential that anyone globally could join in, but mostly that doesn't happen and it's just you and your friends. And that works much better for people.

Replies (3)

@bendaubney@social.lol 2026-07-23 15:05

@hl@social.lol @andycarolan@social.lol @purplelime@social.lol I think for me it's because Mastodon is a little more intimate that I like it more. I'm a big proponent of Dunbar's number (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar's_number) and deliberately follow around 150 or so people on whatever my social media of choice happens to be. I like that I know people here instead of just having passing comments to fly-by-nights.

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@andycarolan@social.lol 2026-07-23 16:33

@hl@social.lol Agreed... as you said, such a large conversation doesn't work well! It does feel far more social over here to me too. @bendaubney@social.lol @purplelime@social.lol

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@alexandra@social.lol 2026-07-23 17:53

@hl@social.lol In my mind, 'social' media was always about connecting more with friends and family and, in the process, finding a few new online friends along the way. Mastodon provides a better space to connect without all the noise. imho @andycarolan@social.lol @bendaubney@social.lol @purplelime@social.lol

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