Saskia

Growing the open social web with Newsmast Foundation (npub1dad…y568) 🌐🧡 Thinking about social media with FORbetter 🧭 Watching women's sport ⚽

Website: https://forbetter.ghost.io/
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npub1w44zp0vc3yaumh20vaza6uarh4dmtqzn4ltypsg0gvzhrundvg4q53a3gm

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nprofile1qqs8263qhkvgjw7dm48kw3waww3m6ka4spf6l4jqcy85xpt37fkky2spz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds282mm2

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npub1w44zp0vc3yaumh20vaza6uarh4dmtqzn4ltypsg0gvzhrundvg4q53a3gm

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Last Notes

2025-09-29 13:41:53 UTC

In my sisters sci comm lecture today, a slide displayed three alternatives to X.
Bluesky
Threads
Mastodon
We need to be better at supporting these young academics who are being pointed this way.
#SocialWeb #Mastodon #LeaveX #SocialMedia #SciComm #Bluesky #Threads #Twitter

2025-08-08 09:33:52 UTC

After struggling through Babel, I needed a fun read and, you know what, I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed this.
Lady's Knight - 6/10
Silly and cliche, but it really leant into that.
I don't know who I would recommend it to. But, if you're looking for an easy read that's got a WLW medieval setting, check it out.
#FediBookClub #Book #Reading #Books #BookRecs
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/114/992/439/047/706/572/original/779055636216e5d1.png

2025-08-06 08:24:40 UTC

If you're a #FediAdmin I'd really recommend checking out this guide on the Online Safety Act by @npub1y2r…kvzk
https://about.iftas.org/2025/07/30/navigating-the-uk-online-safety-act/
#OnlineSafetyAct #OSA #Compliance #Moderation #Fediverse #Mastodon

2025-07-30 11:42:28 UTC

"It's so hard to get a message out across a decentralised network. It's so hard to apply something like the OSA to a decentralised network. But, whether we want to or not, we have to work this out for the future of the Open Social Web."
My latest post looking at the recent scam wave on Mastodon is live now!
https://forbetter.ghost.io/mastodon-defence-command-the-scam-wave/
#Mastodon #Scam #Blog #Fediverse #SocialWeb #SocialMedia

2025-06-12 15:35:06 UTC

I was inspired recently by a conversation about Bluesky becoming a political echo chamber.
But, after some thought, I'm not sure the politics are the problem. I think it's the behaviour of the 'alternative' platforms.
If we can rethink how we communicate online, encourage people to be more respectful, to be politer, maybe we can fix the echo chamber issue. Maybe we could even fitx some of the big world issues?
https://forbetter.ghost.io/is-bad-behaviour-spoiling-the-move-from-big-tech/
#Blog #SocialMedia #Fediverse #Mastodon #Bluesky

2025-06-04 10:54:10 UTC

What are some good podcasts to listen to whilst working?
#PodcastingChannel

2025-05-28 08:37:33 UTC

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Have you seen @npub1wkk…exdr ? A good way to keep up with the Greens on the Fediverse

2025-05-22 14:08:11 UTC

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🎉

2025-05-12 10:08:30 UTC

Had a great holiday away from the open social web and in the ✨️ real world ✨️
#PhotoMonday #FotoMontag #HolidayPics #Cyprus #Disconnecting
#photography
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/114/494/304/530/045/153/original/37de6d6bf977438b.jpg
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/114/494/295/804/295/224/original/6ef7f17a62fd96c0.jpg
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/114/494/295/656/309/583/original/c81dede393814f01.jpg
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/114/494/295/512/093/236/original/30ac848f0c0fdbd7.jpg

2025-04-12 13:40:53 UTC

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As far as I'm aware, there isn't one. But I'm not an expert!

2025-04-11 15:30:37 UTC

I feel like I'm going crazy listening to panel after panel at #IJF25 talk about needing an EU alternative to Big Tech.
There is one! Yet, they don't want to be on it or fund it 😤
#Mastodon #Journalism #Fediverse #SocialWeb

2025-03-07 09:55:18 UTC

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Not to be that guy, I get this is a meme, but there's a whole host of great speakers at the Fediverse House and only one woman is featured here?
It'd be great for those attending to talk about what we can do to highlight women and their contributions to the open social web more.

2025-02-14 12:17:22 UTC

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Not sure this is what @npub1d2v…0l89 meant when we spoke about more dogs but I've committed now 🐕

2025-01-28 13:04:26 UTC

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Really excited for this one. Hope to finally meet some of the cool people I get to talk to online in-person! 🤯

2025-01-08 16:41:05 UTC

Threads joining the social web was, to me, a good thing. Yes, Meta are about as welcome as a hyena on ketamine. But, people use Meta products.
Now, we have to think again.
https://forbetter.ghost.io/meta-moderation-what-it-could-mean-for-open-social-media/
#Meta #Zuckerberg #Facebook #Moderation #SocialWeb #Fediverse #Mastodon #SocialMedia

2024-12-06 13:02:08 UTC

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Excited to see the discussion on this one 👀

2024-11-27 16:11:41 UTC

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An unexpected win!

2024-11-20 16:24:17 UTC

My sister is a marine biology student at The University of Glasgow. They're currently raising funds for an expedition to Thailand where they'll work with the Center for Oceanic Research and Education.
If you feel like donating, I'm sure a small but passionate group of young marine biologists would be very excited!
https://gofund.me/93ac0e5a
#marinebiology #gofundme #science #academia #marine
#nature #wildlife

2024-11-20 13:07:18 UTC

"So, Bluesky is cool. But, it's not perfect. There are still communities missing that are stuck on X or other social platforms.
For me, the main ones are the women's sport crowd (a community which would really really benefit from leaving the toxicity of X), fandoms, and young people."
Read more about what I like and don't like about Bluesky in FORbetter.
https://forbetter.ghost.io/even-more-bluesky-growth/
#SocialMedia #Blog #Bluesky #Fediverse #SocialWeb #X #Community

2024-11-14 13:19:45 UTC

I don't think nonprofits should stay on X. This is why 👇
https://forbetter.ghost.io/x-makes-you-complicit-its-time-for-nonprofits-to-act/
#SocialMedia #Charity #Nonprofit #X #Twitter #Xodus #Fediverse #Mastodon #SocialWeb

2024-10-30 14:43:46 UTC

"The thing with building in a decentralised space is that it's constantly changing. That can be hard to keep up with but, personally, I love it.
Instead of one omnipotent platform, multiple projects build, launch, grow, fail, side-by-side. It's kind of romantic."
Looking back at a year of Newsmast and decentralised social media
https://forbetter.ghost.io/hope-the-power-of-a-year/
#SocialMedia #Decentralised #Open #Fediverse #Mastodon #Blog #X #Threads #Bluesky #SocialWeb

2024-10-30 14:23:23 UTC

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Party time!!

2024-10-30 13:06:43 UTC

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Looks great, if I do say so 😉

2024-10-23 12:29:56 UTC

"It's not a shock that young people are the biggest users of social media. But I think this is often misunderstood and, because of that, strategies using this information lead to failure."
Latest FORbetter blog explores how we make a platform stick and why young people are trickier than expected.
https://forbetter.ghost.io/building-a-platform-that-sticks/
#Blog #SocialMedia #Fediverse #Mastodon #Bluesky #X #Online #Data

2024-10-18 09:16:02 UTC

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This is huge!

2024-10-04 16:14:41 UTC

"Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend MarketingLand. Besides learning that being a Zoom DJ is a job, my biggest takeaway was that no one in this space really realises what's on the horizon."
The people running the marketing, social media, and branding of many important organisations have no idea how much potential the social web holds.
https://forbetter.ghost.io/marketing-in-uncharted-territory/
#Fediverse #Blog #Marketing #SocialWeb #Mastodon #SocialMedia

2024-09-20 11:05:49 UTC

"These people, the organisations they represent, were at FediForum to learn. To develop. To grow together."
See my biggest takeaway from @npub1cza…d6az on my blog (& don't forget you can subscribe for free)!
https://forbetter.ghost.io/eyes-on-the-future-fediforum-september-2024/
#FediForum #Fediverse #Future #Federation #Mastodon #Technology #SocialWeb #FediFirst

2024-09-20 09:24:29 UTC

"...'Do I really need to support another new platform?' Consider this: If a Facebook or WhatsApp group had tens of millions of active users skewed progressive, welcomed organic outreach, and offered full access with zero cost to join, your team would jump at the chance. It would be a no-brainer."
Really enjoyed this piece by @npub1vag…mjkp & @npub1uqz…sxyt on @npub18z2…s6gs
The Fediverse is definitely a no-brainer for any morally sound organisation!
https://wedistribute.org/2024/09/the-revolution-will-be-federated/
#Fediverse #SocialMedia

2024-08-23 15:53:32 UTC

The Fediverse aligns with a lot of people, organisations and charities ethics. So why don't more of them use it?
https://forbetter.ghost.io/the-future-of-social-media-are-ethics-enough/
#SocialMedia #Ethics #Fediverse #Mastodon #Morals

2024-08-14 09:51:37 UTC

Since it's #OceanWednesday I thought I'd show this off again.
#meermittwoch #photography #beach #UK
https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/newsmast/media_attachments/files/112/959/752/109/768/643/original/324e349ba6209b32.jpg

2024-08-12 10:21:35 UTC

There are some really interesting UK journalists coming together on Threads.
I'm hoping we can get some of them to federate so more people across the Fediverse can follow them without having to use Meta 🤞
Those that we manage to convince to share to the Fediverse will most likely be added to the @npub1ylv…j658 Feed & Community. unless they specialise in a topic. Keep an eye out!
#Journalism #News #Mastodon #Fediverse #Journalist #Threads

2024-08-09 14:17:03 UTC

Earlier this week Newmast launched a big update with a few new features.
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to love them as much as I do. So here is my take on why they work so well alongside the @npub1dad…y568 ethos to build knowledgeable communities.
https://forbetter.ghost.io/all-about-community-newsmast-3-1-0/
#Blog #Fediverse #Mastodon #Newsmast #App #NewFeatures #Update #Upgrade #SocialMedia

2024-08-08 10:49:55 UTC

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Good thing to point out! Thank you

2024-08-08 09:07:17 UTC

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Some journalists are suggesting Bluesky as an alternative, causing a rise in UK signups over there, and certain academic fields have been moving to Threads in droves - mainly the historians!
Sadly, Mastodon has been a little left out of this. But, both Bluesky and Threads are federated platforms which is a win.
We're using the Newsmast X account to help people understand alternatives and encourage federation when they move. I'm especially glad to see that going back to help was worth it.

2024-08-08 09:06:33 UTC

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The nation has, over the past week, seen a number of so-called 'race riots' fuelled by misinformation and dangerous actors on social media.
The biggest culprit, X. The biggest celebrity, Musk.
Musk's incitement of violence and continued support for proven misinformation made people mad. Including the UK government, who are looking to take legal action.
As a result, more and more journalists, thought leaders, and everyday people are leaving X.

2024-08-08 09:06:09 UTC

The latest on Twitter / X
It appears that many people outside of the UK have little idea what has been taking place over the past week here and Elon Musk's role in it.
Here's a thread explaining a bit more and why so many people in the UK are leaving X 🧵 👇
#X #Twitter #UKRiots #massmigration #socialmedia #mastodon #Threads #Bluesky

2024-08-06 14:37:40 UTC

Threads used their platform to raise awareness for the Fediverse. What does that mean?
https://forbetter.ghost.io/the-fediverse-just-got-some-street-cred-thanks-to-threads/
#SocialMedia #threads #Branding #Awareness #Fediverse #Mastodon #Flipboard

2024-08-02 13:34:48 UTC

I explored how we stay human on social media in my latest blog post 🤖
Check it out and please consider subscribing!
https://forbetter.ghost.io/rebellion-of-machine-perfection/
#Technology #SocialMedia #MachineLearning #Bot #AI #Humanity #Philosophy