The Fediverse has reached 14 million users. A number certainly far from the billions of users of other "traditional" social networks, but undoubtedly a success. Observing the dynamics of various social networks, I've come to understand that we need a healthy return to more pure, more authentic social networks.

Those who experienced the early days of the social phenomenon will undoubtedly remember how, in the beginning, the spirit was of contact and sharing. Social media was the tool to keep in touch with distant or long-lost friends and relatives (Facebook), or to freely discuss common interests with strangers (Twitter, etc.). The goal was socialization, human contact through the digital medium. An extension of the phone, of the message. The atmosphere was generally positive and relaxed. Perhaps a bit clumsy - we weren't used to such widespread sharing of our opinions - but more genuine.

At a certain point, someone realized that social media could lead to significant advertising revenue. They began studying behaviors and realized that angry people are more likely to return to social networks and interact. Hate breeds hate. Hate breeds addiction. Hate on social media generates addiction to social media.

Algorithms were initially calibrated to push people to discover content related to their passions, generating a positive interest in the medium. Gradually, they began to study how to retain people on the platform. More and more often and everywhere, especially on mobile devices. Mobile apps are designed to collect as much information about us as possible. Thus, hate generates addiction, addiction generates ubiquitous use, ubiquitous use generates endless data collection for platform owners.

Our hate is monetized, also because angry people are more divided and weaker. Divide et impera, a method as old as the world itself.

Unfortunately, no social network is immune to hate because hate is part of everyday life. However, we can choose to have a purer social experience, where content is selected based on our interests and choices, not based on others' economic and political interests.

The Fediverse, although imperfect and perhaps initially more complex for those accustomed to the "guided" experience of traditional social networks, provides tools for something purer, more tangible. It is more linked to the human desire to interact with our peers than to hate and negativity and provides tools to defend against bothersome people.

Congratulations on the milestone, Fediverse!

In the early days of social media, interactions primarily took place between people who knew each other in real life. We acted with kindness and sought to maintain a relationship similar to the one we had in person, knowing that there was a real individual on the other side, belonging to the real world.

As social media evolved, people began to connect with strangers, united only by their use of the same platform or common interests. This phenomenon already existed in pre-social systems like FidoNet and Usenet, but it was mainly limited to industry experts.

Today, for many, social media contacts have become numbers printed on a screen, mere symbols of our social success, our media popularity, and the interest our ideas or actions generate. In this process, we often forget that behind each number (excluding bots) there is a person with their challenges, qualities, and flaws - a person just like us.

We must commit to not reducing others to mere numbers on a screen and remember that each of us carries a set of problems, concerns, joys, and pains.

Social media are tools for communication between people; we need to remember to treat each other as such.