• riccardo
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    4 years ago

    Ah yes, 2020’s Gab/Voat. I wanted to try it out to see how its “frontpage” looked like, but it requires a phone number. No thanks

    • QuentinCallaghanOP
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      4 years ago

      Now there’s a term for platforms that turn into Nazi and far-right echo chambers, “Voatification”. It’s really useful for describing a common phenomenon. Funny also how Parler’s founder intended to create the platform for everyone, not just Pro-Trump people but now it’s just full of them.

      Parler seems dubious for several reasons:

      • in order to send private messages, get a verified badge or respond with images or links, you have to send a picture of your ID
      • messages can be removed or users can be banned for any reason at all - even if the users are following the rules
      • users are asked to step in and volunteer as unpaid moderators for filtering spam
      • there are no blue checkmarks like in Twitter but “Verified influencers” who are promoted even more and whose content is promoted in the platform’s “Discover” section

      And these rules, doesn’t look like absolute freedom of speech for those who want it.

      • Octorine
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        4 years ago

        Avoiding Voatification is really hard. The problem is that whatever platform you’re providing an alternative to is still there, and if the only difference between you and them is censorship, then all the non-extremists will stay on the big site, because that’s where their friends are, and you just get left with the dregs.

        The only think I can think of that might work is to have another major selling point besides the laissez-faire stuff, like an emphasis on security, or no/limited advertising, or better UI. Even then, it would be an uphill battle.

        It’s too bad, because I think having some sort of “let all voices be heard” type of platform could be a good thing, assuming you can get some sensible people to use it.

      • riccardo
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        4 years ago

        users are asked to step in and volunteer as unpaid moderators for filtering spam

        This is interesting. Have you had a chance to look at how it works? I’ve seen people saying that moderation is in fact done by volunteers who vote on reported content (if 4 people out of 5 decide the content is not legit, it is removed or hidden), but I’m curious about how it works: what do these people get to vote on? Can they vote on any post, or they have some kind of queue of reports to review? How are these people chosen? Do you get, like, a request from Parler to help them out with moderation or is it based on some sort of karma score? Or maybe they just voluntarily apply? Or maybe it’s just contextual and when a post gets marked as reported, the first 5 people to vote will decide its faith?

    • Maya
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      4 years ago

      does anyone know a good “best of parler” thing to follow to see screenshots? i don’t want to give them more active user stats, but I’m terribly curious

      • riccardo
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        4 years ago

        r/ParlerWatch is probably what you’re looking for, although I do not suggest you to go there. I hate to be reminded the level of toxicity the right can reach when given an unmoderated platform to vent in

    • Ephera
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      4 years ago

      Yeah, it’s the usual cycle:

      1. A group of people get frustrated with moderation and potential censoring on the established platforms.
      2. Someone creates a Free Speech™ platform.
      3. It gets overrun by extremists.
      4. No one wants to use that platform anymore.
      5. Go back to step 1.
      • Manmoth
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        4 years ago

        It sounds like you’re describing this Lemmy instance.

        • Ephera
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          4 years ago

          I’m describing the exact opposite of this Lemmy instance. This is one of the very few smaller networks that doesn’t rave on about protecting your “free speech”, and the moderators will have your ass handed to you, if you start misbehaving.

          For example, by creating an account on a small network just to complain about that network – what the fuck are you doing here, if you don’t like the moderation? You could be on goddamn Reddit, of all places, and experience less strict moderation.